Chicago, Illinois —Chicago native Jeremiah Smith, 28, has hit the road to remind people not to forget about his childhood friend Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
"He's my brother. So as long as it takes, I'll be out here driving."
Smith drives his truck fitted with electronic billboards showing images of Hersh that say ‘Chicagoan kidnapped by Hamas,’ and ‘My friend was kidnapped by Hamas.’
The 23-year-old American Israeli civilian, was violently taken by Hamas terrorists and remains in Gaza. Surveillance video from Oct. 7 showed Goldberg-Polin attempting to escape the terrorists by hiding in a bomb shelter near the Supernova festival he had fled. More than 360 people were slaughtered at the rave, and many young women were raped and tortured.
Goldberg-Polin’s friend Anfer Shapira was killed alongside dozens of others that day when terrorists hurled multiple grenades into the packed shelter. Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage with three other men from the shelter, after the lower part of his left arm was blown off during the grenade attack.
Months later, on April 24, Hamas released a propaganda video of Goldberg-Polin addressing the camera, identifying himself by name, date of birth, and his parents’ names before delivering a statement. He said that he had remained in captivity for "almost 200 days.”
For Smith, the hundreds of days that have now stretched into months without his friend seem like forever.
“I’ve known Hersh for 22 years. His grandmother is like a second grandmother to me,” shared Smith.
Smith is rolling through the 2024 Democratic National Convention this week, seizing on the opportunity to raise awareness about his friend. In addition to nods of approval, Smith said he has received hateful looks as well.
“One thing that will always stick with me is when a protester put up ten fingers, then seven fingers and then he pretended to slash his neck… I couldn’t understand why he was celebrating innocent people getting hurt.”
Goldberg-Polin is one of eight Americans still believed to be held in Gaza.
Annie Gimbel
