Was Highland Park Chosen Due To Its Jewish Demographics?

Why Did the Highland Park Shooter Target a Jewish Neighborhood?

RABBI MICHAEL BARCLAY

We are all aware of the terrible shooting that occurred while celebrating America’s independence in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago, and we now know about the suspect, Bobby Crimo. What makes this act even more horrific than the many other constant shootings in Chicago (over 250 so far this year), are both the reactions and the specific circumstances of this tragic event and the perpetrator.

There have been the predictable and intellectually dishonest reactions from the left claiming this proves the need for more gun control. From Illinois Gov. Pritzker on down, the leftist politicians are using this event to promote their anti-gun agenda, and Illinois State Senator Julie Morrison has said she will never attend a 4th of July parade again (what a nice excuse for her never having to honor this nation). Although a sad commentary on our politicians, this is in no way shocking.

But there is a deeper insidiousness that is related to this shooting. There are dozens and perhaps hundreds of July 4th parades in Illinois, and many thousands across the nation. Why was Highland Park a target when there were at least six other similar parades within driving distance? Who is Crimo, and why did he choose the Highland Park parade as his target?

Highland Park and its surrounding suburbs (which include both Skokie and Deerfield) are known for their specific demographics, which include a historical Jewish community that is 30% of the city’s population and supports four Orthodox synagogues. It is in understanding this demographic that we start to see how and why this tragedy happened in Highland Park on America’s birthday. Although police have not released Crimo’s motive for the shooting, by looking at his past actions we can get a glimpse into how he may have been influenced by his environment and by indoctrination at school and the media.

If we are honest, this violent act by Crimo appears to be a reflection of the domestic terrorism and hatred of the BLM/Antifa riots of two years ago, which targeted specific neighborhoods, including and especially Jewish ones. We should remember that the head of BLM Los Angeles said that the riots were planned in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood so that “the people there would feel pain.” BLM, in their charter, is committed to the destruction of Israel, and this incident in Highland Park reeks of the same sort of anti-American/anti-Semitic values that BLM, Antifa, and the “woke” left hold so dear.

More...