Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau has faced sharp criticism after he suggested that Arab Americans who do not support U.S. policy on the Israel-Hamas conflict should consider leaving the country. During a village board meeting, recorded and aired on YouTube, Pekau responded to a local Arab American community's plea for a cease-fire resolution by saying, "If you're an American citizen and you don't feel that way, in my opinion, you're entitled to that opinion, but you can certainly go and go to another country and support that country, and all the power to you if you chose to do that," according to Chicago Sun-Times.
Amidst controversy, Pekau, who has previously served in the Air Force, stood by his perspective that his position aligns with “America’s interests,” a stance that he made clear during the discussion about the proposed resolution that has stirred emotions in the local community. The Arab News reported, "What side of history does Orland Park want to stand on? The side that did nothing, or the side that had compassion for innocents?" argued Yousef Zegar, a lifelong resident of Orland Park. Furthermore, speakers at the meeting referenced Orland Park's past support for Ukraine, questioning the inconsistency in the village's stance on international humanitarian issues.
In response to the outcry, the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago condemned Pekau's comments as "ignorant and dangerous" suggesting that his rhetoric reflected attitudes more synonymous with authoritarian regimes rather than the United States' principles of freedom of expression. CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab stated, "The notion that Americans who disagree with an official should pack up and leave to another country is more befitting of the 1960s Soviet Union, rather than of the United States where freedom of expression and conscience is a founding principle of this country and its constitution," as obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Rehab also demanded an apology, stating that a majority of Americans actually support a cease-fire.
Despite the protestations, Pekau doubled down on his sentiments, suggesting that constituents who favor the types of resolutions passed in cities like Chicago and San Francisco can move there instead. Pekau stated, "I’ll tell you what, I’m in Orland Park. I don’t want to look anything like (Chicago) and San Francisco. If that’s how you want to live, go live there because Orland Park ain’t it," as reported by Arab News. Moreover, Pekau refuted claims that the residents' push for acknowledging the conflict in Gaza through a cease-fire was comparable to the unanimous support he claimed existed for Ukraine.
As the controversy unfolds, the events have highlighted the tensions in Orland Park as this southwest Chicagoland suburb grapples with international politics and local representation. Moreover, speakers are planning to revisit the issue and voice their concerns at a "breakfast with the mayor" event that Pekau hosts monthly at the Village Hall. Pekau, elected as mayor in 2017, previously drew attention for his resistance to state pandemic mandates and criminal justice reforms. The voices of local Arab Americans continue to resonate, calling for recognition and a response from their elected representatives within the larger tapestry of America's diverse fabric.
