Illinois man who pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters charged with hate crimes, authorities say

Source: Associated Press

Illinois man who pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters charged with hate crimes, authorities say

BY CLAIRE SAVAGE
Updated 5:00 PM EDT, October 25, 2023

CHICAGO (AP) — A man accused of pepper spraying pro-Palestinian protesters who gathered near an Israel solidarity rally over the weekend has been charged with hate crimes and aggravated battery, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Zevulen Ebert, 33, of Skokie, Illinois, is charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery and two felony hate crime charges, according to Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office. Pepper spray can irritate the eyes and cause a burning sensation and difficulty breathing.

The confrontation broke out as about 1,000 people were gathered Sunday evening at a banquet hall in a northern Chicago suburb to show solidarity with Israel, and several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside, according to police and event organizers.

The pro-Palestinian protest was wrapping up when the sound of a gunshot cracked through the air, and then a few minutes later, a man pepper sprayed attendees, said organizer Hatem Abudayyeh of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network. “People were running and screaming and very, very afraid,” Abudayyeh said. “These charges are good news.”

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-illinois-protest-hate-crimes-698b1c9dc575eb736ac2e88544641a7a