Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ home on Chicago’s North Side was defaced with paint by a group of people early Tuesday, just hours after pro-Palestinian activists staged a protest outside a fundraiser for him at a downtown bar because of his oversight of the state’s investments in Israel.
Chicago police said the incident at Frerichs’ home in the Lakeview community was “defaced by use of paint” about 4 a.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported and no one was in custody.
Frerichs office said the vandalism occurred during a protest outside the treasurer’s home.
“Everyone has the right to peacefully protest and petition their government for change. This was not a peaceful protest. These activists meant to cause fear and intimidation through scare tactics,” Frerichs said in a statement. “They threatened my twin 1-year-old boys. They defaced our home and our sons’ toys with red paint, and they wore masks and shone a light at a security camera to shield their faces.
Palestinian supporters have criticized the U.S. relationship with Israel because of its conduct in the war on Hamas. After last October’s attack by Hamas militants on Israel, Frerichs announced an additional $30 million in investments by his office in Israel bonds. Since Frerichs became treasurer in 2015, the state has made more than $120 million in investments with the country, his office has said.
“I stand by the investment decisions I’ve made as treasurer,” Frerichs said in his statement Tuesday, which came as Iran launched a missile attack on Israel. “I continue to believe, as Iran’s missiles rain down on our important ally, that Israel has the right to defend itself. And I continue to hope for a negotiated resolution that can bring lasting peace to the region.”
In a November 2023 news release announcing $20 million of the additional $30 million in Israel Bonds, Frerichs said the “investment shows our strong commitment to Israel and its people.”
“My office has invested in Israel Bonds because they (diversify) the state’s portfolio, achieve good returns, offer a safe investment, and to affirm the special relationship between Illinois and the only democracy in the Middle East,” Frerichs said.
On Monday, several hours before his home was defaced, the CODEPINK organization, a women-led anti-war nonprofit, led a protest outside Joy District, a downtown bar where Frerichs held a fundraiser.
In an edited video posted by the organization on Instagram, a woman at the event tried to ask Frerichs why his office invests in Israel Bonds.
“This is my tax dollars that you’re investing. You’re the treasurer, so I would like to know what are those bonds going for? And why are you investing in a genocidal nation?” the woman asked. “Like, look at our public schools in Chicago. Look at our roads. You have homeless people on every corner. So what is that $30 million you invested?
Frerichs tried walking away as the woman continuously tried to get him to explain the investments in Israel Bonds.
Later in the video, the sound of a woman’s voice is shouting Frerichs’ name in what appears to be the same venue. “This is our community’s money that you’re investing into a genocidal expansionist colonial state!” the person shouted as someone tried to get her to leave.
A spokesperson for CODEPINK said the organization didn’t know anything about the incident at Frerichs’ home, and declined further comment.
According to The Associated Press, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 39,600 Palestinians and wounded over 91,700. The war began when Hamas militants from Gaza stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killing about 1,200 people.