Oak Park Township had to postpone its annual meeting last night as too many people came out to vote than the meeting space could safely accommodate.
The meeting was set for 6:30 p.m. April 14 on the second floor of the Oak Park Public Library’s Dole Branch, but a line of more than 100 people stretched outside the library’s door, around the building and down Augusta Street. The township meeting drew a huge turnout, as meeting attendees would have the chance to vote on whether or not an advisory referendum concerning boycotts of Israel should be put on this November’s ballot in Oak Park.
The township canceled the meeting shortly after it was supposed to start. Township leaders have not announced an alternative date and location for the meeting.
“Due to the number of electors currently present, as well as additional individuals seeking admission, the Township is obligated to ensure that the meeting space can safely accommodate at least the number of electors present at that time within the meeting hall and those outside the meeting hall desiring to be admitted,” Township Manager Evan Michel said in a statement. “The decision to recess and relocate reflects the Township’s commitment to public safety, accessibility, and compliance with state law. Township officials are actively working to identify and secure an appropriate alternative location that can safely accommodate all attendees.”
The room at the library could only accommodate 58 people. The library was chosen for the meeting in part because of streetscape construction on Oak Park Avenue limiting access to township offices, the township said.
A new location and date for the meeting has not yet been set, the township said on Thursday.
The question on this year’s meeting agenda is “do you support the right of individuals and organizations, including state contractors, to boycott, divest and sanction Israel?”
The room at the library could only accommodate 58 people, the township said. A new location and date for the meeting has not yet been set, the township said on Thursday.
The same question is on the agenda for several other townships around the state. Votes on the matter reportedly passed in the townships of Cunningham, Peoria, Kickapoo, Medina, DuPage and Normal but failed in Capital and Wheatland townships, according to progressive news blog Let’s Address Illinois, who supports the petition.
Champaign townships also postponed its meeting due to a large turnout and Naperville Township did not vote on the matter, although it was on its agenda, according to the blog.
The petitions come as violence in the Middle East escalates and the Illinois legislature considers repealing a 2015 law banning state pension funds from being invested in companies that divest from or boycott Israel.
Meeting attendee Dan Fridberg said he learned about the township vote through his temple and said that the overwhelming attendance made him feel proud to be an Oak Parker.
“I decided I would show up and see if I could listen to people talk about this, and what they’re hoping to do,” he said. “It makes me feel good about my community that people are passionate, that they want to come out for something like this. So it makes me feel good about the community, frankly. I think we have a lot more in common than we do apart.”