Walberg Questions Evanston Mayor Over Northwestern Protests

Rep. Tim Walberg, chair of the Home Training and Workforce Committee, needs to have a briefing with the mayor of Evanston, Sick., relating to his determination to not assist dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment at Northwestern College in April 2024.

Walberg, a Republican, requested the briefing in a Jan. 28 letter to Mayor Daniel Biss, which included 13 pages of communications amongst then–Northwestern president Michael Schill and college trustees in addition to between Schill and Biss.

At a number of factors, Schill discusses his intention to arrest protesters however provides that there aren’t sufficient campus cops to take action. Later, Schill says {that a} trustee, Michael Sacks, believed the mayor wouldn’t present extra police assist and would “inform people to shore up his progressive credentials.” In a report of a unique dialog, Sacks wrote, “I do know Biss nicely. If the wind blows within the flawed manner he’ll throw you below the bus. No hesitation.” 

Schill beforehand informed the Home committee that Biss declined to offer Evanston cops to clear the encampments regardless of a mutual support settlement between town and Northwestern.

“He mentioned, ‘You already know, you may me sue me if you would like,’” Schill mentioned, in line with a transcript launched by the Home committee.

Walberg accused Biss, a Democrat who’s working for Congress, of failing to guard Jewish college students at Northwestern. The requested briefing will “support the Committee in contemplating whether or not potential legislative adjustments, together with laws to particularly tackle antisemitic discrimination, are wanted,” in line with the letter.

Biss defended his determination to not intervene at a press convention Thursday, in line with The Every day Northwestern, and mentioned it was not politically motivated. He did, nonetheless, name Walberg’s letter “a dishonest political assault.”

“However we’re right here at this time as a result of that assault is an effort to go on the proper to peacefully protest. That is an effort to make use of the very actual hazard of antisemitism to advance a political agenda,” Biss mentioned, as reported by the coed newspaper. “I’ll say that, personally, as a Jewish individual, as a grandson of Holocaust survivors, I discover it deeply, deeply offensive.”