Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) denounced both “shameful” vandalism that occurred outside his Capitol hill office and antisemitic demonstrations that occurred in Chicago on Independence Day, accusing the perpetrators of empowering Hamas terrorists.
“My Capitol office was vandalized yesterday in a vile act of hate in which the posters of the more than 100 people still held hostage in Gaza (including 8 Americans) were ripped from the wall, shredded and tossed across the hallway,” Schneider, who is Jewish, posted Friday on X.
“This was a shameful act on any day, but especially on July 4, our country’s Independence Day. Sadly, it was but one of many hateful, un-American actions that took place across the country on the day we celebrate freedom and democracy,” he said.
“We are aware and investigating,” a spokesperson for US Capitol Police told The Post. “To protect the investigation, we cannot provide any more information at this time.”
Schneider, co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Abraham Accords Caucus to strengthen Israel’s standing in the Middle East said he had also “been disgusted by the videos and reports of individuals calling July 4th a ‘terrorist holiday’ and burning American flags.”
“It’s not just happening at my office in Washington, DC,” Schneider went on in an X thread. “More than 700 miles from the Capitol, my home was targeted last weekend at 2:30AM by approximately 50 masked demonstrators banging drums, blowing horns and screaming antisemitic chants.”
“The same groups that were at my house earlier in the week marched through Chicago on July 4th, not calling for peace, but rather condemning the United States of America,” he added.
“These actions don’t advance peace,” Schneider went on. “Instead, they play directly into the hands of Hamas terrorists enabling them to continue to hold hostage not only those they kidnapped from Israel, but all civilians in Gaza as well.”
The Illinois Democrat is the latest politician to be targeted by anti-Israel protesters — and to have property vandalized as a result of demonstrations, many of which have roiled US cities since Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre.
Thousands of protesters descended on the White House in mid-June and marred federal monuments with pro-Hamas slogans. No arrests were made.
South Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) also had his district office vandalized by “anti-Israel extremists” on Christmas Day 2023, with blood-red paint splattered over a Jesus Christ child doll.
“Covered in ‘blood’ is a doll meant to symbolize Jesus, whom the vandals describe as a ‘Palestinian child messiah,’” Torres posted on X at the time.
“The escalation in intimidation and incitement against Members of Congress feels like it is heading in a dangerous direction,” he said. “I, for one, will not be intimidated.”
The Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip has divided the Democratic Party in a critical election year, with far-left “Squad” members voting against military aid funding for the Jewish state and demanding a cease-fire before the elimination of the terror group.
Hamas terrorists killed nearly 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, most of whom were civilians and 33 of whom were American citizens. Another 240 were kidnapped and taken back to Gaza.
Schneider and a few dozen Democrats voted in November to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for defending the terror attack as justified “resistance” and calling for the elimination of the Jewish state.
Pro-Israel Democrats have supported Israel’s war effort — while at times criticizing both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s and President Biden’s leadership.
In May, Schneider also joined 25 House Democratic colleagues in a letter that expressed concerns over the Biden administration’s decision to pause an Israeli weapons shipment, saying that it would embolden Hamas.
