PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago & Attorney Farah Chalisa Welcome Hate Crime Charges, Suspect Remains in Custody After Pilsen Mural Assault
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
(CHICAGO, IL, 8/8/2025) — The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and attorney Farah Chalisa, today welcomed the hate crime charges filed against Danielle Wasserman for her violent attacks and defacement of a Palestinian-Mexican solidarity mural in Pilsen.
SEE MORE: Chicago woman charged with attacking 2 people, vandalizing mural in Pilsen
Wasserman was arrested Tuesday by members of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. She faces multiple counts, including two counts of hate crime, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, aggravated battery with strangulation, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and criminal damage over $500.
In May, after throwing trash at the mural, Wasserman allegedly attacked a bystander who tried to intervene — beating them and attempting to strangle the victim with their own keffiyeh scarf. Then in June, she returned to the site to vandalize the Palestinian farmer’s painted face and added the words “THANK YOU ISRAEL <3 WOME,” before striking another victim in the face with a metal three-hole punch and pinning them to the ground. That victim sustained a large forehead lump visible weeks later at a CAIR-Chicago press conference.
“These hate crime charges are a rare crack in the wall of impunity that has long shielded Zionist violence, both here and in Palestine, where justice continues to be sought,” said Human Rights Attorney Farah Chalisa, who represented victims of the assault. “They are also a reminder that when communities come together to protect each other and speak the truth without fear, we can force justice into places that have long denied it. To all those who aim to carry out violence rooted in hatred, see these charges as a message: you WILL be held accountable, and no privilege will protect you.”
At Wasserman’s first appearance at Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Friday, the Judge remanded her back into custody—a necessary step to keep the community safe given her prior history and continued risk to the community.
Noah Halpern, CAIR-Chicago Staff Attorney, added, “We commend the comprehensive charges and the court’s decision to remand Ms. Wasserman back into custody. She has proven to be a danger to the community and a flight risk. We expect the courts to uphold Ms. Wasserman's detention as the legal process moves forward."
This prosecution follows sustained community advocacy with The Mural Movement, alongside Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez of the 25th Ward, and victims who bravely shared their stories.
CAIR-Chicago remains committed to holding all perpetrators of hate accountable and stands in solidarity with all communities — especially immigrants and Palestinians — targeted by violence and bigotry. This case builds on recent victories, including the hate crime charges filed in other racially motivated attacks in Chicago, sending a strong message that hate-fueled violence will not be tolerated.
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote understanding.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director, CAIR-Chicago, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; Noah Halpern, Staff Attorney, CAIR-Chicago, 312-212-1520, nhalpern@cair.com; Farah Chalisa, Human Rights Attorney, 224-392-7822, attorneychalisa@gmail.com; Hafsa Haider, Communications Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, 561-317-7509, hhaider@cair.com
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