Activist interrupt Mayor Emanuel at IDF Fundraiser

Demonstrators picket outside of the Hilton Chicago, 720 s. Michigan ave., while a fundraiser for the Israeli Defense Forces occurred inside the hotel on Aug. 21. | Nader Ihmoud

The Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine held a die-in and a protest outside of the Hilton Chicago, 720 s. Michigan Ave on Aug. 21.

The Jewish United Fund helped plan and hosted a fundraiser for the IDF at the hotel, where Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in attendance, gave a speech and donated $5,000 from him and his wife. Activist, who attended the fundraiser, interrupted the mayor’s speech by chanting, “We are Jews, shame on you. Stop killing children now.”

Here is a video from fundraiser originally posted by Electronic Intifada’s Ali Abunimah:

Demonstrators were removed from the event by approximately 10 security guards and were met with plenty of boos from others in attendance, according to Kay Emilie, one of the activists who stood up and chanted during Mayor Emanuel’s speech. In the video below, Emilie and Lynn Pollack, the Jewish Voice for Peace Chicago Chapter Leader, give an account of what happened as they were removed from the Hilton hotel.

While the activists disrupted the event inside the hotel, many demonstrators gathers outside of the hotel to picket and hold a die-in.

A child who attended the demonstration outside of the Hilton Chicago, 720 s. Michigan Ave., took part in the die-in on Aug. 21.