Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois State Senate District 25 candidate Heather Brown recently recounted a troubling experience during a petition drive event in which she felt intimidated by two individuals.

Brown said the intimidation occurred at a Dunkin Donuts located in West Chicago.

“It was very intimidating with two gentlemen just in a hurry, not ordering. They didn't order at all. When I turned around and put his phone to his ear, he wasn't talking. He was just pretending to be on the phone.”

Brown said one of the men then encroached on her space.

“Finally, one of them with longer hair went and sat not directly in front of me, but kitty corner at the table of eight, because I was planning for more people to show up as that's what I was expecting,” she said.

“He just sat there and he was just staring at me and the gentleman behind me was still standing behind me, so. But he went further, so I couldn't see him in my peripheral (vision). Both of them did not order anything, they were just there.”

Brown ultimately left and went to the location where the event, which she had not publicized, was actually being held.  

“That's when I decided to stand up, grab my coffee and head to the real location,” Brown said.

Brown said she intentionally provided the incorrect address in order to throw off people who may try to disrupt the event.

“Our fliers that we were passing out to the public, like people we knew and trusted, had the correct address on it to try and keep it more private,” she said.

She said she and Aris Garcia, the Republican candidate for State Representative in Illinois' 49th district, posted about the event on social media but secretly planned on meeting with close supporters elsewhere.

The alleged harassment came just after Brown posted an Op-ed in the Dupage Policy Journal discussing pro-Hamas elements of the Democratic Party.

“When speaking with an older gentleman at the front door of Tom's Market in Warrenville, he saw the map I was holding up in my hand, of Senate District 25. He stated, ‘oh, that area is Karina Villas and Mary or Ma something district’? I stated ‘Maura Hirschauer’. ‘Yes, I met with them the other day and I completely agree with them and I am pro-Hamas with them,’ stated the gentleman,” she wrote.

Brown said she cut off the conversation after the man stated he was “pro-Hamas.”

“Do people not realize that in our State of Illinois, supporting Hamas is stating you wish J.B. Pritzker was dead, or that Bernie Sanders was dead?” she wrote.

“How many more people do you know that are of Jewish faith walking among us now terrified. We have had events already in our State of people believing they're standing up for a new cause for Palestine, attacking and barricading students in libraries. Though, they themselves would be slaughtered if they dared to take a step in Palestine.”

“History needs to be taught accordingly and truthfully for our generations to understand just how much freedom they have here in the United States. As well as how much freedom they would not have by supporting antisemitic groups such as Hamas. I believe in a better way, with peace for people that are not linked with Hamas in any way. This group is an Army with its sole goal of eliminating any man, woman or child of Jewish faith. I will never stand idly by as someone could speak with such hatred in their heart.”

Brown is vying for State Senate District 25, currently represented by State Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). It includes all or parts of Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne and Bartlett.