A growing movement is calling on Illinois to divest $100 million in Israel Bonds, and has filed an ethics complaint against Treasurer Michael Frerichs, alleging abuse of authority, corruption, improper use of state time, and misuse of public assets.
Joseph Czuba, 73, was convicted on Friday for the murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, in October 2023. Czuba, who was the boy’s landlord, faces life in prison after a jury found him guilty of committing a hate crime.
Amid overwhelming U.S. political support for Israel, 25,000 people converged in Chicago last weekend to stand in solidarity with Palestine.
The IL Coalition for Human Rights writes to Illinois legislature members visiting Israel on an Israel lobby junket: “Whether or not it is your intention, your official visit is providing political cover for the right-wing Israeli government officials and their settler proxies.”
The Illinois Investment Policy Board was created in 2015 under the guidance of pro-Israel ideologues to prevent the state pension from investing in companies that boycott Israel. However newly obtained emails show that board members see themselves having an even broader mission — “protecting Israeli sovereignty” in the West Bank.