MEDIA DIGEST: CAIR-Chicago Responds to Grand Jury Indictment of Oak Lawn Police Officer in Brutal Beating of Teen
On February 15th, CAIR-Chicago held a press conference welcoming the grand jury indictment of Oak Lawn Police Officer, Patrick O’Donnell, in the brutal beating of then 17-year-old Hadi Abuatelah in July 2022.
PRESS RELEASE:
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
CAIR-Chicago Responds To Grand Jury Indictment of Oak Lawn Police Officer in Brutal Beating of Teen
(CHICAGO, IL, 02/14/2023) CAIR-Chicago, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, will hold a news conference welcoming the grand jury indictment of Oak Lawn Police Officer, Patrick O’Donnell, in the brutal beating of then 17-year-old Hadi Abuatelah in July 2022.
In response to the indictment of the Oak Lawn Police Officer, the organization will be addressing the incident that left Abuatelah brutally beaten in July 2022 by three Oak Lawn police officers. The other two Officers, Carlson and Hollingsworth are presumed to still be under investigation by Illinois State Police’s Integrity Task Force. CAIR-Chicago continues to demand all officers involved are held accountable.
WHAT: Press Conference Discussing Hadi Abuatelah Case
WHERE: CAIR-Chicago Azima Center, 17 N State St. Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60602
WHEN: Wednesday, February 15, 12 Noon
WHO: CAIR-Chicago Staff, Arab American Action Network (AAAN), Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Representation (CAARPR), and the Rainbow Push Coalition
SEE: PRESS RELEASE: CAIR-Chicago to Address Police Brutality of 17-Year-Old Bridgeview Minor
READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE
WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE:
VIDEO AND RADIO NEWS COVERAGE:
FOX 32 Chicago: Oak Lawn Activists Applaud Charges Against Cop Caught on Video Repeatedly Punching Teen
WGN News: Advocates Applaud Charges Against Oak Lawn Police Officer In Filmed Beating of Teen
CBS Chicago: Oak Lawn Officer Indicted After Beating of Teen During Arrest
WBBM: Reports on Muslim civil rights group expected to offer reaction to indictment of Oak Lawn cop who beat teen last summer
PRINT COVERAGE:
Civil rights groups on Wednesday praised the indictment of an Oak Lawn police officer in the beating of a 17-year-old suspect last summer, but said it was only the “first step” towards justice.
This is a crisis in the culture of policing that’s happening in this country,” said Muhammad Sankari with the Arab American Action Network.
MORE NEWS COVERAGE:
There are reports that charges have been filed in the case, but Eyewitness News has not been able to independently confirm those reports.
"Everybody involved, even the good apples, need to stand up and help us weed out what is bad," said Ahmed Rehab, with CAIR-Chicago. "Not just for the betterment of society, but of the police departments and their reputations."
"It's not just about Hati. It's not just about the Arab community as Ahmed spoke about before," said Muhammad Sankari, with Arab American Action Network. "This is a crisis in the culture of policing that's happening on this country."
