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An investigation is ongoing into a pair of electronic billboards spotted by drivers displaying messages calling for “Death to Israel” along the Edens Spur in Deerfield Wednesday, with local and state officials denouncing the displays as antisemitic.
Images of the billboards show them displaying the phrases “Death to Israel,” and “F— Israel,” with the Palestinian flag as a background.
According to a social media statement from Outfront, which owns the billboards, they were made aware of two billboards displaying “inappropriate and unapproved content” Wednesday evening. The copy was “not approved or condoned” by Outfront or its advertisers and was removed.
“We take this matter very seriously,” the statement said. “The citation is being investigated and we are notifying all appropriate local and national authorities.”
Village of Deerfield Mayor Daniel Shapiro released a statement calling the displays “abhorrent hate speech messages.”
“I strongly condemn this hate speech. It has no place in Deerfield or anywhere else. The messages have been removed,” Shapiro said.
According to Shapiro’s statement, the manager of the billboard property reported that the system was hacked and the billboard disabled. Shapiro said a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies is underway.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, whose district includes Deerfield, called the displays “disgusting” and “intimidating, with “no place in the 10th District or anywhere in America.” He noted the incident’s proximity to a community with a large Jewish population and a Jewish day school, occurring at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Daniel Schwartz, co-founder of the Chicago Jewish Alliance, described the billboard displays as “not only a troubling manifestation of antisemitism,” but “a broader culture of hate that threatens the very fabric of our community.
He was also critical of the explicit language used in the displays in a suburban area “where families and individuals seek safety and inclusivity.”
“Such messages do not merely target the Jewish community, they serve as a stark reminder of the pervasive intolerance that can affect us all,” Schwartz said.
The CJA was “committed to protecting the values of dignity, respect, and understanding,” he said. The incident underscored their “mission to combat hate in all its forms and promote a society where diversity is celebrated rather than condemned.”
“We stand firm in our resolve to challenge these hateful narratives and work collaboratively with all communities to foster an environment of acceptance and unity,” Schwartz said. “We must remain vigilant and proactive in our fight against hate in all its manifestations.”
The billboards included a claim that they were “paid for by MrBeast LLC,” referencing popular YouTuber James Donaldson who goes by the moniker “MrBeast.”
According to a statement shared with FOX 32 Chicago provided by a spokesperson for Donaldson, “MrBeast did not pay for this billboard” and had contacted attorneys and authorities about having it “immediately removed” after learning about its existence.
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