Chicago mayor’s response to shooting in Jewish community sparks backlash

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing criticism on Wednesday aft he released a statement offering "heartfelt thoughts and prayers" to nan unfortunate of a shooting successful nan city’s Rogers Park vicinity – but made nary mention of nan unfortunate being Jewish.

Social media users are pointing retired that nan connection is different from a message Johnson released past fall successful which he said he was "devastated by nan execution of a six-year-old Palestinian American" who allegedly was nan target of a "despicable dislike crime [that] is simply a shameful reminder of nan destructive domiciled Islamophobia plays successful our society." 

The 39-year-old successful Rogers Park was attacked Saturday while he was wearing a kippah and stepping to a synagogue in a known Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. The suspect, identified arsenic Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, allegedly changeable astatine an ambulance and constabulary officers earlier they returned occurrence and brought him into custody. 

"On behalf of nan City of Chicago, our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are pinch nan unfortunate and his loved ones from this weekend’s shooting incident that took spot successful Rogers Park," Johnson wrote connected X. "This tragic arena should person ne'er happened, and we admit nan dedication of our first responders who put their lives connected nan statement during this shooting. 

JEWISH COMMUNITY ‘SHAKEN’ AFTER CHICAGO MAN SHOT ON WAY TO SYNAGOGUE, ATTACKER FIRED AT POLICE 

The unfortunate was stepping to a synagogue successful nan Rogers Park vicinity of Chicago erstwhile he was changeable connected Saturday, Oct. 26. (Fox32 Chicago)

"The Mayor’s Office is successful adjacent connection pinch nan Chicago Police Department arsenic nan investigation continues. All Chicagoans merit to consciousness safe and protected crossed nan city. There is much activity to beryllium done, and we are committed to diligently improving organization information successful each neighborhood," he added. 

However, nether nan Democrat’s statement, an X organization statement was posted adding nan discourse that "Mayor Brandon Johnson is leaving retired of his connection that nan personification is Jewish."

"Antisemitic hate has been connected nan emergence successful Chicago," nan statement adds. 

The mayor’s agency did not instantly respond Wednesday to a petition for remark from Fox News Digital. 

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OUTLAWS PALESTINIAN ORGANIZATION FOR FUNDING TERRORISM 

Police are investigating a shooting connected Saturday, Oct. 26 successful nan Rogers Park vicinity of Chicago. (Fox32 Chicago)

In his October 2023 station regarding nan decease of a Palestinian American, Johnson said, "We grieve alongside his family and nan Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities successful our authorities arsenic we reckon pinch this unthinkable loss." 

In that case, authorities opportunity a landlord successful nan Chicago suburb of Plainfield fatally stabbed the child and attempted to termination his mother because of their Muslim religion and arsenic a consequence to nan Israel-Hamas war, according to nan Associated Press, which besides reported that nan assailant has pleaded not blameworthy to dislike crime and execution charges. 

Debra Silverstein, a 50th Ward alderman, said nan antheral unfortunate successful nan Rogers Park shooting was targeted "on Shabbat pursuing nan Jewish vacation of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah." 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks astatine nan Democratic National Convention astatine nan United Center successful Chicago connected Aug. 15. (Reuters/Vincent Alban)

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Abdallahi is facing 14 felony counts, including six counts of attempted murder, but Silverstein has expressed vexation that nary dislike crime charges person been revenge yet.