An estimated 800 people converged in downtown Northbrook on Sunday for an afternoon demonstration regarding the events of Oct. 7 in Israel.

Israel declared war after Hamas terrorists launched attacks and most of the people on Sunday in Northbrook were in support of Israel’s actions in response to the acts by Hamas.

A second group of about 20 people maintained a presence in Village Green Park at the plaza at the corner of Shermer and Meadow roads.

Police set up barricades around the park and on Shermer and Meadow roads. Police also gradually shut down sections of downtown Northbrook at that corner as the attendance grew. Some people arrived at 12:30 p.m. and stayed along Village Green Park. Others chose to march on the sidewalk on Walters Avenue from the direction of Meadowbrook School.

Numerous flags unfurled in the breeze on a blue sky Sunday with temperatures past 50 degrees. The signs varied and many of them were handmade. Posters with photographs of the hostages were also seen.

Northbrook police eventually formed a human barricade on Shermer Road and as a line, faced west, looking to the train tracks, with their backs to a temporarily closed Shermer Road. Business staff members were seen peering at the spectacle from behind storefront glass on Shermer Road.

What was called “The Silent Vigil for The Victims of Hamas” was not silent. The vigil was promoted as a “Counter the Hateful Misinformation!” and many who attended shouted at the smaller group. Some used loud profanity. There was also singing.

Counter response organizers began planning the silent vigil a few days before Nov. 12, said Alison Pure-Slovin, Midwest regional director for the Simon Wiesenthal Center of Chicago.

Pure-Slovin said, “People came to Israel and slaughtered human beings in their home.” Pure-Slovin also said 239 people are missing.

Vigil attendee Dan Gelfond of Riverwoods said, “I’m here to show support for Israel.”

Karen Firsel of Northbrook, also a vigil attendee, said, “It’s so important for us to be strong with the Jewish people and to be educated about the situation that’s happening.

“The most important thing is that the Jews have to defend themselves and Israel has to defend themselves and we need to get the hostages out,” Firsel said.

Anna Tarkov of Northbrook was there on behalf of familiesforceasefire.org and staffed a table in the park. Tarkov encouraged children to take part in coloring activities and was seen engaging with families. The https://familiesforceasefire.org website promotes that Nov. 12 was a National Families Day of Action for Families of Gaza.

People behind barricades were heard shouting Anna’s first name and yelling out why Tarkov was hiding behind a PPE mask. Others near Tarkov wore PPE masks and one PPE mask wearer (with the smaller group) informed the crowd that the point of the mask was not to contract COVID-19.

Tarkov said that people were angry because, “They think that I am supporting Hamas.”

Tarkov talked about caring about the hostages but Tarkov does not support Israel and, “their actions.” Tarkov would “love” to have the hostages freed.

“I think that’s what everybody wants, any human being would want that,” Tarkov said about the return of hostages. “Any human being would also not want 10,000 people to be indiscriminately killed who are civilians, half of them children, in Gaza.

“Any human being should be asking for a cease fire.”

One person at this section near Tarkov was heard shouting, “Long live Palestine. Jerusalem is Arabic. Jerusalem is Muslim.”

Northbrook Village President Kathryn L. Ciesla attended the demonstration and said, “I’m very grateful that everything was peaceful and certainly I’m grateful for the show of the folks who are supporting Israel and look to free the hostages.

“I think that’s outstanding,” Ciesla said. “This is really what Northbrook is all about.”

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-10) also attended and noted that people were, “coming together, working together to make sure that we are standing with Israel, united, to make sure that the world understands the United States stands with Israel.”

Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton of Glenview said, “This event was a perfect example where people can disagree but gather peacefully.”

Northbrook Village Trustee Robert P. Israel wore a sign on the back of outerwear that read, “Don’t tell Israel to cease fire. Tell Hamas to surrender.”

“I am so proud of our community for having shown up,” Israel said.

Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.