2 Jewish DePaul students showing support for Israel punched, pushed down outside Lincoln Park campus

Two Jewish DePaul students visibly showing support for Israel were punched Wednesday afternoon outside the Lincoln Park campus.

Around 3:20 p.m., the two students were outside the student center in the 2200 block of North Sheffield Avenue when two masked people approached them and punched them, according to a letter to the campus from university president Robert L. Manuel.

The students, who police said were 27 and 21, suffered "physical injuries" when the older one was punched in the face and the younger one was pushed to the ground, but declined medical treatment, Chicago police and the letter said.

"We are outraged that this occurred on our campus. It is completely unacceptable and a violation of DePaul's values to uphold and care for the dignity of every individual," Manuel wrote in the letter. "We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure DePaul is a safe and welcoming space for every member of our diverse university community."

Authorities are also investigating to determine whether the attack, that police have classified as a battery, was a hate crime, according to the letter.

Anyone with information on the attack should contact DePaul Public Safety at 773-325-7777 in Lincoln Park or 312-362-8400 for the Loop campus.

No arrests have been made.