Jewish leaders want Chicago mayor to create antisemitism task force

Anti-Defamation League demanded Mayor Brandon Johnson adopt Chicago Commission recommendations for Jewish community protection after task force proposal sits on his desk for nearly a month. Media Jewish leaders want Chicago mayor to create antisemitism task force The Chicago Commission on Human Relations found that the Jewish community experienced a 58% increase in hate crimes, spanning between 2023-2024 By Joshua Q. Nelson Fox News Published March 6, 2026 7:00am EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Waltz slams UN as 'cesspool for antisemitism' U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz says the United Nations has an "atrocious history" on antisemitism and urges institutional change. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Jewish leaders are pressuring Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to establish an antisemitism task force because they believe he’s not doing enough to protect the Jewish community, Fox News Digital has learned. "There was a 58% rise in hate crimes," Rebecca Weininger, the senior regional director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Midwest, told Fox News Digital, specifically referring to anti-Jewish hate crimes. "So to be clear, that's not hate incidents. It's hate crimes, bias-motivated crimes against Jews in the city of Chicago."The Chicago Commission on Human Relations in July last year found that the Jewish community experienced a 58% increase in hate crimes from 2023-2024. Other groups experienced a decline. Jewish leaders are pressuring Mayor Brandon Johnson to establish an antisemitism task force because they believe he’s not doing enough to protect their community, Fox News Digital has learned. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) The ADL held a press conference on Monday to demand that Johnson adopt recommendations of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. Among those recommendations is a task force to protect Jewish members."Establish the task force your commission recommended, name a leader accountable for this work, set timelines, make progress public," Chicago Sinai Congregation Rabbi Amanda Greene told ABC 7. The Chicago Commission on Human Relations in July last year found that the Jewish community experienced a 58% increase in hate crimes while other groups experienced a decline. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NYC ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS NEARLY TRIPLE DESPITE OTHER CRIMES REACHING RECORD LOWS"The taskforce would be very similar to other task forces that the mayor's office already has in other marginalized communities. It would be populated by the mainstream Jewish community as a way to give information to the mayor about the lived experience of Jews in Chicago right now," Weininger told Fox News Digital. Weininger continued, "To help inform other executive policies that he could adopt that would be immediately beneficial to the mainstream Jewish population." The ADL held a press conference on Monday to demand that Johnson adopt recommendations of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. (Anti-Defamation League ) CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON PUTS ICE ‘ON NOTICE’ WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKING PROSECUTION OF AGENTSOther task forces Chicago established are the Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women, which focuses on policy changes to address violence against women, and the Reparations Task Force. Chicago also established a Task Force on Black Immigrants that investigates social and economic conditions for Black immigrants in Illinois.Johnson's office declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Related Article Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Fear and loathing in the Big Apple Joshua Q. Nelson is a reporter for Fox News Digital.Joshua focuses on politics, education policy ranging from the local to the federal level, and the parental uprising in education.Joining Fox News Digital in 2019, he previously graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Political Science and is an alum of the National Journalism Center and the Heritage Foundation's Young Leaders Program. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and Joshua can be followed on Twitter and LinkedIn. Related Topics MediaChicagoCulture TrendsIllinois Fox News First Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Arrives Weekdays By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time. Subscribe Subscribed Subscribe You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!