Illinois Democrat says posters of hostages still held by Hamas were ripped down at his House office

Jewish Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider, a Democrat, said on Friday that his House office was vandalized on the Fourth of July by demonstrators who ripped down posters he had of hostages in Gaza.

The congressman shared a photo of the vandalism on social media, which showed the posters shredded and littered in the hallway outside of his office. Schneider said his home in Illinois was also vandalized last week.

"My Capitol office was vandalized yesterday in a vile act of hate in which the posters of the more than 100 people still held hostage in Gaza (including 8 Americans) were ripped from the wall," Schneider posted in a thread on X. "This was a shameful act on any day, but especially on July 4, our country’s Independence Day ... I’ve been disgusted by the videos and reports of individuals calling July 4th a 'terrorist holiday' and burning American flags."

Schneider's office said it contacted the U.S. Capitol Police about the incident, and Capitol Police said it was investigating the matter, according to NBC News.

"It’s not just happening at my office in Washington, D.C. More than 700 miles from the Capitol, my home was targeted last weekend at 2:30 a.m. by approximately 50 masked demonstrators banging drums, blowing horns and screaming antisemitic chants," the congressman said. 

"These actions don’t advance peace. Instead, they play directly into the hands of Hamas terrorists enabling them to continue to hold hostage not only those they kidnapped from Israel, but all civilians in Gaza as well," he added.

The attack is not the first time pro-Palestine demonstrators tore down images of the hostages. Shortly after the war broke out in October, reports and video circulated that showed protesters ripping down  images of the hostages in major American cities, including New York City.

Thursday's vandalism occurred on the same day that negotiators said there was a "breakthrough" in discussions on a ceasefire agreement, but Reuters reported that negotiations regarding the ceasefire will continue next week.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.