CHICAGO (WLS) — Two Jewish students visibly showing support for Israel were physically attacked outside the Lincoln Park campus Wednesday afternoon, according to DePaul University officials.

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Chicago Jewish Alliance founder Josh Weiner said students are traumatized after attack near the student center.

Chicago police said they determined the attack was a hate crime, saying the suspect “made anti-Semitic remarks before striking the victim repeatedly.”

Police released images of the suspects in the attack.

Their injuries were minor and both Jewish students refused medical treatment.

Weiner said he wants students to share their story when they are ready and is appalled by alleged anti-Semitism on college campuses.

READ ALSO | 2 Jewish students showing support for Israel attacked outside DePaul Lincoln Park campus

In a message to students and staff, DePaul’s president said:

“We are outraged that this happened on our campus. It is completely unacceptable and a violation of DePaul’s values ​​to uphold and care for the dignity of every individual.”

One of the students is a reservist in the Israeli army, which the ABC7 I-Team has been reporting on for more than a year. The I-Team first met Max Long after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He was a seconded reserve sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces.

Since then, the 27-year-old moved to Chicago and enrolled at DePaul, where he regularly hung out on campus and offered to talk to passersby about the war.

“So once a week, now that I’m a student at DePaul University, I go to DePaul University with a sign that says come talk about Israel with an IDF soldier. And I try to stay, you know, as positive as possible, you know, people come up to me, ask me questions and I’ll always answer questions,” he said.

Long was outside in the same space outside the main student center when he said two men in ski masks hit him from behind. Police said the attackers then pushed a 21-year-old Jewish boss who was sitting next to Long.

Long had been deployed by the IDF on October 7, 2023, as part of a counter-explosive unit. When he moved to Chicago this summer, DePaul became his new theater of operations, armed with words, not guns. He engaged the students and staff as they walked by, explaining his direct view of what was happening in Israel.

“I am not a politician. I will never give a political answer. I am not a spokesperson for the IDF. I am a spokesperson for my own story,” he said. “I’m doing a disservice if I ignore the Palestinian narrative, and that’s really important to me, is to fully understand it and understand where there’s a place to relate to that, you know, and align ourselves to a more good. , because this has to end.”

One student said he was scared when he saw the alert.

“We can disagree with people, we can’t have the same opinions as people, but you shouldn’t act like that in this situation,” said student Aidan Smith. “There’s just no need for that in our country right now.”

The Midwest Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League released the following statement:

“Despite warnings and concerns, Chicago’s Jewish community continues to be the target of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism and violence. The ADL has tracked a 300 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Chicago over the past year. We can’t help but ask. : Is this the new normal for Jews in Chicago Hopefully not?

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call DePaul Public Safety at 773-325-7777 in Lincoln Park or 312-362-8400 for the Loop campus.

A statement from DePaul Students for Justice in Palestine claims the University should have taken steps to reduce campus anger and ensure everyone’s safety.