The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance against antisemitic and hateful flyers on Wednesday in response to anti-Jewish pamphlets being placed in the city in April.
Chicago’s ordinance on unlawful, threatening objects was amended to prohibit leaving hateful or threatening material intended or likely to intimidate, emotionally abuse, threaten, or slander a person or group of people.The ordinance was also modified to expand on the unlawfulness of leaving objects that appeared to the public as bombs. The amended version includes objects that appear to contain hazardous materials, such as dangerous radioactive, toxic, poisonous, chemical, and biological substances.
Antisemitic flyers with rat poison discovered in April
In April, 84 antisemitic flyers in bags, some with what appeared to be rat poison, were discovered in Chicago’s Lincoln Park area. Forty-third Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen, who proposed the new ordinance, noted it was not the first time that antisemitic pamphlets were distributed in the area.Knudsen introduced the ordinance on April 17 to make it clear that such behavior was unacceptable and to hold perpetrators accountable, he explained.
“There is a long history of hate-flyering targeting various groups. As a gay man, I have witnessed these types of incidents targeting the LGBTQ+ community and other diverse groups,” Knudsen said on Instagram. “The threat of a monetary fine as punishment can serve as a strong deterrent for the perpetrators of these flyerings. The legislation prohibits placing these hate flyers on vehicles, doorsteps, and the public way, and imposes a fine of up to $1,000.”