Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Board candidate Hadiya Afzal has issued an apology for sharing on Twitter a video of the assault of an police officer during a riot, which she said made her laugh during repeated viewings.

"(I've) been watching this on repeat for fifteen minutes and laughing every single time," Afzal tweeted.

The three-second video clip shows an officer being struck in the face by a projectile apparently thrown in return from a protester. The officer screams, his knees buckle and he turns away as the clip cuts off.

Afzal, a 20-year-old from Glen Ellyn, is currently running for DuPage County Board in District 4.

Afzal issued a statement Sunday morning on her Facebook page, saying the comment was taken out of context.

"I do not condone violence in any form, and indeed have been one of many voices calling for policy changes to our policing problems today," Afzal said in the statement. "The specific related video showed a federal officer throwing a water bottle at unarmed protesters, unprovoked, and having it returned seconds later. I regret the comment and apologize to any individuals hurt by the remark."

Afzal said she believed that people should continue to push back against "extrajudicial encroachment in municipal matters" and that she wants every resident of District 4 to be safe.

"That is why I have always stood for, and will continue to do," Afzal said. "Again, I do not condone violence against ANYONE, and apologize again for this singular remark."

Many of the comments on her post did not accept her apology.

"You must never achieve political office," one comment wrote. "Your deflection holds no merit. You condone violence against police and in turn violence in general."

Another commenter questioned in what context she had intended the comment.

"Not only do you encourage violence towards the police, when caught, you lie about it?" the person wrote. "Good luck in the Election. Karma."

One commenter said her behavior was "typical."

"Typical, say what you want, then apologize and think it’s all ok," he wrote. "You’ve shown your true colors already. Don’t ridicule by saying 'you’re sorry', no one believes you."

Another commenter said the original post was not taken out of context.

"Well, this is what you posted," she said, sharing a screenshot of Afzal's tweet. "What was the full context then if you claim it was 'taken out of context.' Open your twitter account again if you have nothing to hide so people can see your full context."

Several DuPage County residents commented that they would make sure she wasn't elected.

"Thank you for showing your true colors," one wrote. "As an active DuPage County resident, I will do everything in my power to make sure you aren’t elected. It’s asinine that you’d think it’s ok to laugh at police officers being attacked, especially while running for office."

Another wrote that Afzal was not what the county needed.

"This lady condoned the attack on a police officer even saying she laughed during the whole video," he wrote.

Afzal previously ran for the DuPage County Board in 2018. She worked as an election judge in 2016 and serves as a Milton Township precinct committeeperson. She says that because she is younger than most in politics, she brings "boundless energy and intense passion" to issues the community faces.