Chicago Woman Pleads Guilty to Hate Crimes Near Pilsen Mural
A 37-year-old Chicago woman, Danielle Wasserman, has pleaded guilty to two counts of hate crimes for a pair of late-night attacks near a Pilsen mural that prosecutors said celebrated “Mexican and Palestinian solidarity.”
Wasserman received concurrent one-year sentences after entering her guilty pleas before Judge Michael Clancy. The sentence was fully satisfied by time already served and the state’s standard 50% sentence reduction.
Prosecutors revealed that Wasserman repeatedly targeted the mural last spring, confronting and assaulting women who challenged her.
The first attack occurred on May 9 at 11 p.m. in the 1600 block of South Ashland Avenue. A 24-year-old woman confronted Wasserman for tossing trash near the mural’s Palestinian figure. The situation escalated quickly as Wasserman assaulted the woman, leaving bruises and causing psychological trauma.
Just over a month later, on June 13 at 11:55 p.m., a second confrontation took place at the same mural. A 42-year-old woman riding a bicycle noticed Wasserman painting over the mural and questioning her about the message. Wasserman responded sarcastically before assaulting the woman with an industrial-style three-hole punch.
Surveillance video captured Wasserman pinning the woman down, smearing her with white paint, and threatening her not to report the incident to the police.
After filing a police report alleging harassment on social media, Wasserman surrendered to CPD on August 5 and was charged in connection with both attacks.
In addition to the prison sentence, court records mandate that Wasserman complete community service hours and enroll in an educational program discouraging hate crimes involving protected classes.
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