Chicago officer on disability faces suspension for participating in pro-Hamas protest in uniform

CHICAGO, IL - Raid Ghanimah, a Chicago police officer who has been on a leave of absence since early 2023, is now facing a 10-day suspension for violating department policies. This, after he donned his black battle-dress uniform, hoisted Palestinian and Blue Lives Matter flags, and marched in a pro-Hamas demonstration in October 2023.

As reported by The Chicago-Sun Times, Ghanima, a member of the Chicago PD since 2000, was also accused of attempting to obscure his identity by covering his name and badge number on his BDU and failing to identify himself to another officer when he was asked. According to the outlet citing a police report, he violated several department policies, including one regulating officers' participation in political activity.

The city cited evidence against Ghanimah including officer body-worn camera video, posts to social media, and witness testimony, according to NewsNation.

Chicago PD policy prevents an off-duty officer from wearing "a uniform or any part thereof that would identify the individual as a Chicago police officer” or “hold himself/herself out as a Chicago police officer” while participating in any political activity.
 

Earlier the guy with the Chicago police flag, blue lives matter flag, and the Palestinian flag was given the mic and chanted “Free, Free Palestine”. pic.twitter.com/rMYaMhZIfr

— Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) October 18, 2023

A Sun-Times photojournalist, Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere, captured Ghanima in a photo wearing his uniform during the demonstration, although his name and badge number were not obscured in that first image. In a subsequent post, the obscured name and number can be seen masked with tape with the comment from LaRiviere saying, "A Chicago police supporter has joined the protest, stating he visited Gaza or the West Bank after a trip to Turkey, and thought it was a lovely place."
 

A Chicago police supporter has joined the protest, stating he visited Gaza or the West Bank after a trip to Turkey, and thought it was a lovely place. pic.twitter.com/r2n4iMPSvc

— Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) October 18, 2023

The outlet reported that three days later Ghanimah reportedly participated in another rally, still wearing his Chicago PD BDUs. Per the Sun-Times, Ghanimah, a prolific activist on Social Media, receives "ordinary disability" from the department for an unstated injury which pays 50% of his salary. He has applied for an increase to "duty disability," which would increase the payment to 75%, citing pension board records. Should he not return to duty, he will not serve his suspension, a CPD spokesman said.