CHICAGO (WLS) — Officials want to make sure Jewish students at DePaul and other Chicago schools feel cared for after a antisemitic attack on campus earlier this week.

Security guards in bright blue vests patrolled Friday morning outside DePaul’s Lincoln Park Student Center, where two Jewish students were attacked Wednesday afternoon.

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The Chicago Police Department is now investigating this attack as a hate crime.

“It’s just disappointing. DePaul is really a family atmosphere and we have a great community,” DePaul junior Haley Walker said.

She said students are shocked by the violence.

“These types of things really don’t happen on this campus. DePaul is really a welcoming and open-arms campus; so it’s sad to have something like this happen,” Walker said.

CPD said the attack occurred while students were visibly showing support for Israel.

Investigators say during the incident one of the suspects made anti-Semitic remarks before repeatedly punching a victim.

The victims’ injuries were minor, and both Jewish students refused medical treatment.

The I-Team has learned that one of the victims was 27-year-old Max Long, a reservist in the Israeli army.

They reported on Long for more than a year, interviewing him while he was deployed to Israel with an explosives unit after the Oct. 7 attacks.

The I-Team was preparing a follow-up report on Long’s return to DePaul and had recently spoken to him about his regular public appearances on campus, carrying an Israeli flag, offering to speak to others about the conflict.

“We have to find a way to move on and live, you know, together. And that can only happen once these stigmas and, you know, these fears are put aside and we’re able to have a conversation.” Long said.

Long said two men in ski masks ambushed him, punched and pushed another campus Jewish leader to the ground before fleeing.

“Obviously, they were pretty shaken up. They’re worried about their friends; they’re worried about their own safety moving onto campus,” said Charles Cohen, executive director of Metro Chicago Hillel.

Chicago Hillel Metro oversees DePaul Hillel.

“This is something that Jews all over the world carry with them, the feeling that at any moment they could be in an unsafe situation because of wearing a yarmulke, because of wearing a Jewish star, because of the fact that they are associated with Israel,” Cohen said.

Cohen said he spoke personally with the two victims.

“I sent them DoorDash gift cards, just so they wouldn’t have to worry about dinner. It’s part of how we do our work,” he said.

DePaul issued a statement regarding the attack, writing in part, “We are outraged that this happened on our campus and will do everything in our power to hold those responsible for these hateful acts to account.”

The DePaul Faculty Staff Alliance also released a statement, saying, “The DePaul Faculty Staff Alliance is appalled by the attack against our students this week. There is no place for violence on a college campus. There is no room for antisemitism in a college. We are working with the administration to support our students and hope for the speedy recovery of the students who were assaulted.”

Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement Friday, saying: “I am appalled by the violence committed against two Jewish students at DePaul University who were exercising their First Amendment right to express support for Israel. I have asked the Illinois State Police to assist the Chicago Police in apprehending the perpetrators and will provide any additional assistance needed. to bring them to justice.

“I am equally concerned about the protests outside a Synagogue in the Loop where Jewish attendees were harassed and their place of worship vandalized.

“Hate has no place in Illinois and I will continue to work with law enforcement to protect our communities from it.

“This incident preceded an attack on Jews at a soccer match in Amsterdam today, where Israeli fans were chased and beaten in anti-Semitic attacks. I call on our allies around the world to take action against hate and violence amid rising global intolerance. “

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.