A Libertyville man has been arrested on hate crime charges after posters appeared throughout Lake County with pro-ICE markings and shooting targets placed on aliens, with officials calling it “vile” and “hateful.”
Derek Webb, 38, of Libertyville, was charged with one count of a hate crime, a Class 4 felony, and one count of disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that the charges stem from Webb allegedly making direct threats against Latino and immigrant members of the community.
Webb is alleged to have posted a bullseye sign which included handwritten words saying “Good Shot ICE.”
“Clear threats of physical violence that are motivated by hatred, bias, or racism must be strongly condemned in the community and responded to by the legal system. True threats are not protected by free speech, and they are particularly dangerous when they are directed towards groups who are historically and wrongfully attacked,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.
The state’s attorney thanked the Waukegan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Gurnee Police Department and Lindenhurst Police Department for their work in identifying Webb as the offender and collecting the evidence across dozens of scenes.
“I also want to thank our federal partners with whom we have been consulting with respect to threat assessment,” Rinehart said.
U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider said earlier this month that he was “disgusted” by the “vile, hateful” posters being placed in Waukegan, Zion and North Chicago.
He called it a clear attempt to “scare, intimidate, and divide our communities,” especially immigrant neighbors.
“I join with fellow elected officials in unequivocally condemning these hate-filled posters and the small-minded people distributing them,” Schneider said.
Different posters had been placed on numerous poles over the span of a few weeks. The posters included references to “MAGA” and ICE.
Other posters appeared to show green figures, which appeared to be aliens, with shooting targets placed on them.
Webb is not charged with hate crime for the MAGA signs, prosecutors said, noting that he is specifically charged with the offense for the bullseye signs, which were placed near businesses and a church. It is also unknown if more than one suspect placed the all of the signs.
Some of the posters were placed high on the poles, requiring people to stand on vehicles or ladders to remove them.
Residents and community leaders had been taking down the posters as they appeared in the community.
The posters have also appeared in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and faith and community leaders held a press conference earlier this month to address “anti-immigrant hate posters” and to “reaffirm the community’s commitment to inclusion, safety, and respect for all residents.”
Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said the signs appeared on poles across Waukegan and in neighboring cities, some of them promoting violence against immigrants.
“Waukegan is a proudly diverse city, built by generations of hard-working people from various countries, cultures, and backgrounds. I condemn any sign, message, or action that promotes hatred, intimidation, discrimination, or political violence towards the immigrant community or towards anyone in the strongest possible terms,” Cunningham said.
Rinehart said he expresses his gratitude to the “brave members of the community” who came forward to stand against the hate.
“Like all of us, these members of the community hope for a brighter future in which hate is forever extinguished from our community. Hate must have no home in Lake County,” the state’s attorney said.
Webb was arrested and appeared in First Appearance Court on Tuesday afternoon.
The state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain him pending trial due to the “seriousness of these charges.”
He remains held in the Lake County Jail and a detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Lily Gaytan, who lives in a neighborhood that was affected, said the signs were a “direct threat to our community.”
“Now is the time for us to unite and put a stop to this hate,” Gaytan said.
Pastor Julie Contreras of United Giving Hope said families living in the affected areas expressed concern about the impact the displays may have on children and immigrant residents.
The investigation remains ongoing throughout multiple jurisdictions. Anyone with further information can call police at (847) 360-9000.