Adam Erkan, 20, has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery and a hate crime in connection with the alleged attack on two Jewish DePaul University students last November.
The Cook County State Attorney’s Office announced the charges this week, marking a significant development in the case that has drawn scrutiny to issues of antisemitism on college campuses.
The arrest of Erkan comes at a time when DePaul’s president, Robert Manuel, has been summoned to testify in Congress about antisemitism on his campus.
Manuel is scheduled to appear before a House committee on May 7, in an effort to understand the growing concerns surrounding antisemitism in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In a related development, students Max Long and Michael Kaminsky, who were allegedly attacked in November, filed a lawsuit against DePaul University, asserting that the institution failed to adequately protect its Jewish students.
Initially, DePaul condemned the attack when it was reported, expressing outrage and cooperation with Chicago police to identify the perpetrators, especially to determine if the assailants targeted the students due to their Jewish identity.
In a statement released Thursday, DePaul confirmed that Erkan was not affiliated with the university and expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts.
“Acts of hate and violence have no place at DePaul,” the university stated.
“We condemn antisemitism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with those affected by this reprehensible act.”
Long, an IDF reservist, was in Israel during the attack by Hamas and has since dedicated himself to supporting lone soldiers who enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
He operates a nonprofit aimed at assisting these soldiers and has worked to bring reservists to college campuses to share their personal experiences in light of the increased criticism and backlash against the IDF abroad.
In November, Long had been actively engaging students outside DePaul’s student center, adorned in an Israeli flag, signifying his support for Israel and inviting dialogue about his experiences as an IDF soldier.
It was during this outreach that two masked individuals allegedly confronted him, shouting antisemitic remarks before physically assaulting him.
Kaminsky attempted to intervene to assist Long but sustained injuries in the process, with a fractured wrist that necessitated surgery, while Long reported suffering a concussion with ongoing effects.
Following the attack, several Jewish organizations held protests on DePaul’s campus to demand action against antisemitism.
Last month, DePaul took a stance by barring the Chicago pro-Palestinian activist group, Behind Enemy Lines, from its campus.
Moreover, the nonprofit Lawfare Project, which represents Jewish individuals seeking civil rights redress, has taken up the case of Kaminsky and Long amid ongoing concerns about their safety.
The lawsuit alleges that DePaul failed to protect the students, despite a pattern of prior threats and harassment directed toward Long.
Long indicated that the fear of further attacks led him to drop a course requiring him to be present on campus.
With the arrest of one of the alleged assailants, Kaminsky, who has been recognized as the “Student Activist of the Year” by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, expressed a feeling of relief over the latest development in their case.
image source from：https://www.jta.org/2025/04/17/united-states/chicago-man-charged-with-hate-crime-for-attack-of-two-jewish-depaul-students
