Some members of the public are questioning the decision by the village of Glencoe to quickly remove signs in downtown supporting hostages in Gaza with officials countering they were following the established local ordinances.
On Oct. 19, 12 days after the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel that killed hundreds and led to many others being taken hostage, including some Americans, hundreds of signs with names and pictures of some of the hostages were placed at the bases of Park Avenue street poles in downtown Glencoe, according to Village Manager Phil Kiraly.
The signs were there for two to three hours and placed by unknown individuals. They were taken down quickly by village staff, according to the village, as officials maintained there is a prohibition of these types of signs in the public right of way.
“You cannot exercise a moral compass,” Village Attorney Steven Elrod said at the Oct. 19 board meeting. “You cannot look at the content. You cannot determine what signs you should allow and what signs you should not allow. You can either allow it altogether or prohibit it altogether.”
Village President Howard Roin offered a similar sentiment.
“Under the First Amendment, the village cannot permit signs we like and take down signs we don’t like,” he said.
Roin made his comments on the signs in message stating an overall condemnation of the Hamas attack.
“This is not a time, we think, for equivocation. There are not two legitimate sides,” Roin said. “The Hamas government sent henchmen to kill Jews and they made it clear they are proud of their atrocity.”
However, Salomon Dayan, an audience member at the board meeting, disagreed with the village position.
“You should take sides when genocide is occurring,” said Dayan, an Evanston resident. “That is shameful.”
Mark Stern, who said lived in Glencoe for approximately 45 years, said he appreciated Roin’s comments, but took another viewpoint.
“32 Americans were viciously murdered by terrorists and at least 15 Americans were cruelly taken.” Stern said. “When terrorists abduct Americans and kill Americans, I believe special circumstances exist.”
Stern said he did not know who put up the signs. He later compared the situation to one in the summer of 2020 when messages in chalk were written on Glencoe sidewalks, drawing the objection of some residents.
“Where is the moral compass when signs supporting cruelly-abducted Americans are not to be displayed in public?” Stern said.
Roin said most of the current trustees were not on the Village Board at the time of the chalking incidents and he would be open to reexamining the policy on that issue.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
