CHICAGO — A brand new Trump administration activity power is demanding Mayor Brandon Johnson clarify how he “might have failed to guard Jewish college students from illegal discrimination” when pro-Palestinian encampments swept faculty campuses throughout the nation final spring.
Trump’s “Federal Job Power to Fight Antisemitism” needs Johnson and the mayors of Los Angeles, Boston and New York Metropolis to take a seat down with its investigators as a part of a probe into “incidents of antisemitism” over the past two years in Democratic-led cities.
A press launch posted on the U.S. Division of Justice’s web site Thursday vowed the duty power would in the end take into account “whether or not federal intervention is warranted,” although it didn’t define what which may appear like.
The duty power additionally plans to interview “impacted college students, native legislation enforcement and group members.”
“Too many elected officers selected to not stand as much as a rising tide of antisemitism in our cities and campuses following the horrific occasions of October 7, 2023,” Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi mentioned in an announcement. “Actions have penalties — inaction does, too.”
The discover comes after federal immigration authorities detained and tried to deport outstanding pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia College pupil who helped manage protests on the New York Metropolis campus. A federal decide blocked the Trump administration from revoking Khalil’s inexperienced card, though he stays in ICE detention.
Johnson was the primary mayor of a serious U.S. metropolis to name for a ceasefire within the Israel-Hamas Conflict, casting the tie-breaking vote in a symbolic Metropolis Council ordinance that divided Democratic progressives and moderates.
However Chicago police in the end cleared many encampments on metropolis campuses final spring after tense stand-offs with college students, together with on the College of Chicago. A metropolis watchdog company is investigating complaints about police conduct throughout a Could stand-off after the Artwork Institute of Chicago demanded college students at its faculty depart an encampment on the grounds of the museum and police arrested 68 protesters.
A mayoral spokesperson mentioned the workplace is conscious of the Justice Division letter however has not but acquired a “formal request to fulfill” with the duty power.
“Mayor Johnson is dedicated to combating all types of hate and antisemitism in Chicago,” the spokesperson mentioned, citing how Johnson spoke out towards the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel and has supported native police efforts associated to antisemitic vandalism on the town’s North Facet.
The mayor additionally condemned Khalil’s arrest whereas talking at a press convention Wednesday.
“The truth that individuals are being detained for his or her political beliefs, that’s past harmful and reprehensible,” Johnson mentioned. “Folks shouldn’t be held for his or her political beliefs, proper? That’s not the hallmark of our democracy.”
Hamas, the group that controls the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, launched a shock assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, throughout which militants killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis and took round 240 hostages.
The Israeli army launched a full-scale assault in response, with airstrikes, raids and different army actions in Gaza. Palestinian well being officers say greater than 45,000 individuals have been killed in Gaza because the begin of the battle — largely ladies and youngsters. The battle is at the moment in a ceasefire. Earlier this yr Trump referred to as for all Palestinians be moved out of Gaza however publicly backed away from these feedback Thursday.
Since taking workplace for a second time period, Trump has escalated hostilities in direction of Democratic mayors and questioned their authority.
Johnson and the mayors of three different Democratic-led cities sat for a six-hour congressional committee listening to final week throughout which Trump allies peppered them about “sanctuary” insurance policies that restrict native cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Trump officers have mentioned mass deportations would begin in Chicago, however have publicly bemoaned how native efforts have prevented them from making extra arrests.
Quinn Myers contributed reporting.
Take heed to the Block Membership Chicago podcast:
