Skokie man who pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters charged with hate crimes

A 33-year-old Skokie man who is accused of pepper spraying pro-Palestinian protesters who gathered near an Israel solidarity rally over the weekend in Skokie has been charged with hate crimes and aggravated battery, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Zevulen Ebert, 33, of the 5000 block of Oakton Street, Skokie​ has been named as the individual in question by Skokie police.

The confrontation broke out as about 1,000 people were gathered Sunday evening at a banquet hall in Skokie to show solidarity with Israel, and several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside, according to police and event organizers.

The pro-Palestinian protest was wrapping up when the sound of a gunshot cracked through the air, and then a few minutes later, a man pepper sprayed attendees, said organizer Hatem Abudayyeh of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network.

A Chicago police officer and two other people sustained minor injuries from being pepper sprayed by an attendee, according Skokie police.

The Skokie, man who authorities say used the pepper spray, is charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery and two felony hate crime charges, according to Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office. He's expected to appear in court Wednesday.