Woman sentenced to prison for vandalizing Palestinian mural in Pilsen and 2 assaults

[My First Viki]

Chicago woman sentenced to a year in prison for hate crimes against Palestinian mural.

Danielle Wasserman, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of hate crime and was sentenced Friday to one year in prison, with credit for the 179 days she has already served in jail. The charges of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property were dropped as part of the plea deal.

The mural, located near 16th Street and Ashland Avenue, depicts a Mexican man and Palestinian man resting peacefully in a field. Wasserman vandalized the mural last year by painting "Israel" over it, burning off the face of the Palestinian man, and defacing the wall and sidewalk with feces.

Two incidents occurred in May and June when witnesses confronted Wasserman as she allegedly vandalized the mural. In one incident, Natalie Figueroa was riding her bike on June 13 and saw Wasserman vandalizing the mural. She confronted Wasserman, who then allegedly struck Figueroa with a metal pole, leaving her with two black eyes.

Another witness reported that Wasserman threw trash at the mural on May 9. In this incident, Wasserman allegedly tried to choke the witness with a scarf before fleeing the scene.

Wasserman was arrested on June 17 and pleaded guilty to the hate crimes in August. As part of her plea deal, she will have to complete 200 hours of community service and enroll in an education program discouraging hate crimes. Her lawyer stated that the conviction would "ensure the legal record reflected the truth" of what occurred, emphasizing the need for accountability and condemnation of bias-motivated violence.

The mural was painted by Taqi Spateen, a Palestinian artist from Bethlehem in the West Bank, as part of the Mural Movement's initiative to transform communities through art and activism. The solidarity mural represents the connection between Mexican and Palestinian communities.

 

[Healt]

I gotta ask, what's going on with this woman? Vandalizing a peaceful mural just because she didn't like something about it? It doesn't even make sense . And then she hits another person with a metal pole? That's like, totally unacceptable . The fact that the lawyer is trying to spin it as her being "accountable" and "condemning bias-motivated violence" just seems like a weak excuse .

I also wonder, what kind of community service is she going to be doing? 200 hours doesn't seem like nearly enough considering what she did . And an education program? That's supposed to make her more "educated" on not being racist or whatever . I need some sources on this one, anyone got any info?

 

[Curious]

This sentence is just too long. I mean, who needs a whole year in prison for vandalizing a street mural? A year feels excessive, considering the fact that Wasserman was only painting "Israel" over it and defacing the wall. Like, what's next? A year for painting a fake mustache on a politician?

And what really gets me is that she got 200 hours of community service out of it... 200! Can you imagine doing that every day for a whole year? It's not like she was going to use that time to learn how to paint, but rather just to sit around and feel bad about herself.

I also don't get why the prosecutor decided to drop the charges on aggravated battery and criminal damage to property. Wasn't vandalism already a crime in itself? I guess it's better than nothing, but still...

 

[Rural Cha]

I'm literally shook by this case... how could someone do something so hurtful & violent towards a beautiful piece of art that represents unity & love? I feel so sorry for Natalie Figueroa, she was just trying to stand up for what's right and Danielle Wasserman ended up hurting her like that. 200 hours of community service is way too little considering the damage she caused...

 

[Profane Spatula Pinball]

I just read about this Chicago woman who got sentenced to 1 year in prison for vandalizing a beautiful mural that showed solidarity with the Mexican and Palestinian community . It made me think, what would happen if we all took a moment to imagine ourselves in someone else's shoes? If we could see things from their perspective, maybe we wouldn't feel the need to lash out or spread hate. It's a tough one, I know, but it's a reminder that our actions can have consequences and hurt people we don't even know . We should all try to be more like that Palestinian artist who created this mural – spreading love and unity through art .

 

[Incredible Oc]

Ugh, I'm so upset about this ! A year in prison is way too lenient for someone who vandalized a beautiful mural that represented unity and hope for peace . It's not just about the vandalism itself, but also the hate crimes she committed - punching a woman with a metal pole? That's some serious aggression . And what really gets me is that she tried to choke another witness with a scarf!

I think 200 hours of community service and an education program are great starting points for her to learn from her mistakes, but it's not enough . We need to hold people like her accountable for their actions and send a strong message that hate crimes won't be tolerated .

The mural was created to show solidarity between Mexican and Palestinian communities, and Wasserman's hate crime had the opposite effect - she tried to erase the beauty and meaning behind it . I hope this sentence will serve as a warning to others who would try to spread hate and intolerance .

 

[Homely Hedgehog]

OMG, have you guys ever been on one of those long road trips where you're driving and suddenly you see this beautiful sunset and it just makes you feel all nostalgic for home? Like, I was thinking about that yesterday when I was at the grocery store and I saw these old-school milk bottles with the labels still intact... they were like time capsules or something! I wonder who buys those kinds of things, are they like collectors or what?

Anyway, back to this mural thingy... I think it's so cool that it's about connection between communities - you know, people from different backgrounds and cultures coming together. Reminds me of my favorite food spot in the city, they have this amazing burrito bowl with kimchi and everything! Have you guys tried any good restaurants lately?

 

[Terrible Q]

I mean, I think it's great that Danielle Wasserman took responsibility for her actions and pleaded guilty. One year in prison is a fair sentence, you know? I'm glad the charges of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property got dropped, though - that's some serious stuff. But instead of being all negative about this, let's focus on the fact that there are people like Taqi Spateen, who's using his art to bring people together and show solidarity between different communities. That's what I call powerful! It's also awesome that Wasserman is going to have to do 200 hours of community service - it's a great way for her to learn from her mistakes and make amends. And the education program she's enrolled in? That's just genius. Maybe this experience will inspire her to become an advocate against hate crimes instead!

 

[Comfort]

OMG 1 yr prison sentence for vandalizing a Palestinian-Mexican mural is like, totally not enough IMHO Danielle Wasserman's actions were literally hate crimes and she should've gotten way more time behind bars I mean, who gets to just destroy someone else's art and then almost choke another witness with a scarf?! That's just disgusting the fact that her lawyer said the conviction would "ensure the legal record reflected the truth" is like, so weak I need to see more justice served on people like Wasserman

 

[Exuberant Eel]

Ugh, I'm all for holding people accountable for their actions, but one year in prison seems like a bit of a harsh sentence to me . I mean, sure, Danielle Wasserman's behavior was completely unacceptable and hurtful to a lot of people. But, you know, we can't forget that she pleaded guilty and is taking responsibility for her actions by doing community service and attending an education program .

Plus, let's not forget that there are more effective ways to address hate crimes than just imprisonment. We need to focus on rehabilitation and providing alternative solutions for people who might be struggling with biases or prejudices . One year in prison might just give Wasserman the opportunity to reflect on her actions and change her ways .

That being said, I do think it's awesome that the community is coming together to support the Palestinian artist who created the mural . It's heartening to see people from different backgrounds showing solidarity and love for each other . Let's keep spreading positivity and inclusivity instead of just punishing those who don't conform