An agitator who chanted "Death to America" in Chicago has contributed to an Iran state TV channel linked to Hezbollah.

In a recent video, Anti-War Committee Chicago organizer Shabbir Rizvi instructed a group of 80 activists in Chicago on how to chant "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" in Farsi. Rizvi has a history of supporting Iran and holding anti-Israel views.

The Free Press first reported on Rizvi's chants during a breakout session of an event attended by 300 activists nationwide, who planned protests to disrupt the Democratic National Convention in August. The crowd erupted into applause hours later when another activist announced that Iran had attacked Israel, launching over 300 bomb-bearing Shahed drones and ballistic missiles into its airspace.

In the video, Rivzi stated that "marg barg" could mean "death to" or "down with," depending on the context.

After videos of Rizvi's "Death to America" chant circulated online, the anti-war activist was a frequent contributor to Iran's Press TV and Al Mayadeen. David Daoud, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discussed these outlets' ties to Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, with Planet Chronicle Digital.

"Daoud stated that Press TV, an Iranian mouthpiece, was seized by the U.S. Justice Department in June 2021 along with 32 other sites. He pointed out that the outlet targeted the United States with disinformation campaigns and malign influence operations."

On January 19, in an article for Al Mayadeen, Rizvi promoted an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. ideology, stating that the deadly Oct. 7 incursion into Israel by Hamas called the "Axis of Resistance into action." Rizvi mentioned Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as groups that worked together to assist their Palestinian allies while maintaining their own sovereignty. The IRGC is also a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

Press TV, as reported by Rizvi, has been accused of having a pro-terror bias. In a December 9 article, Rizvi describes the events of October 7 not as terror attacks on innocents but as the humiliation inflicted on the Zionist regime by the Palestinian resistance led by Hamas.

Al Mayadeen's ties with Hezbollah are "a little bit more complicated," Daoud stated. While the Lebanon-based outlet claims to be an independent Arab satellite news channel, Daoud pointed out that it is "at times virtually indistinguishable from Al-Manar," a Lebanese outlet owned by Hezbollah. In terms of content and access to Hezbollah officials, Daoud considers Al Mayadeen a Hezbollah-linked media outlet, although the site's funding sources have always been shrouded in mystery.

Daoud stated that both channels adopted the "Resistance Axis" ideology and aimed to spread it extensively throughout the Arab world.

According to Daoud, Rizvi's portrayal of these actors as part of a "resistance" is misleading. Daoud claims that these groups use the term "resistance" to gain legitimacy while seeking the annihilation of Israel. Daoud argues that their objectives are not defensive, and the elimination and destruction of a country cannot be considered a defensive action. He believes that the idea of resisting Israel's right to exist is not resistance but propaganda designed to make their objectives more palatable.

Rizvi stated that Iran's April 13 strike on Israel for Press TV was within the scope of international law and that Iran's response was proportional and just. He added that Iran's actions came after much patience in dealing with Israel, a rogue regime. Rizvi also emphasized that Iran's actions were restoring the morale of the Islamic world and that it was acting as the harbinger of regional stability.

The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner has stated that both Israel's April 1 attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, and Iran's April 13 aerial attack on Israel "may constitute the international crime of aggression."

On April 16, The Powerless Podcast made Rizvi's episode private after videos of his anti-American chants were shared online. During the episode, Rizvi discussed Western and Israeli propaganda and argued that "no politician, no business person, no corporation should be allowed to enjoy any peace until there’s justice."

Twitter, formerly known as "abolishnato" handle on X, is no longer in existence. Despite this, the internet and several concerned groups remember the hate he espoused there.

On April 14, the Anti-Defamation League posted a tweet about Rizvi's response to a tweet from Iranian President Raisi, in which Rizvi wrote, "God bless Iran and the heroes of the IRGC."

Planet Chronicle Digital obtained several archived tweets and press appearances of Rizvi from Canary Mission, which showcases U.S. entities and individuals spreading anti-Israel or antisemitic hate. These materials reveal Rizvi's hostility towards Israel and its supporters.

On Oct. 25, Rizvi stated on Press TV that Israel is "actively flaunting" plans to create "a greater Israel" that "extends into Egypt, extents into Syria, extends into Saudi Arabia." He added that if Israel were to "execute these grand plans of maybe even invading Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan … it would have the full political and military backing of the United States." Rizvi also noted that Israel "is actively admitting that they have plans to kill" those they conquer.

Daoud claims that the notion that Israel aims to enlarge its territory to form a "greater Israel" is a widely held conspiracy theory among the most extreme antisemitic minds. Moreover, Daoud explains that Rizvi's belief that Israel intends to conquer most of the Middle East and annihilate its people is an extension of his worldview, which is rooted in the demonization and dehumanization of Israelis.

Rizvi spoke to Press TV again on Nov. 1, asserting that the Zionist lobby has a significant impact on the American political system and spends vast sums of money, often millions per congressional representative, to ensure that politicians adhere to the Zionist political line. In the interview, Rizvi also stated that he did not consider the conflict between Hamas and Israel a war when one side is destroying an entire people.

Rizvi's opposition to Israel is further exposed through a series of archived Tweets by Canary Mission. On November 15, 2023, Rizvi criticized The Guardian's decision to remove Usama bin Laden's "Letter to America," arguing that bin Laden was right in accusing America of supporting Israel's role in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine through arming the country.

On Jan. 6, 2024, Rizvi wrote, "I love waking up to news that Hezbollah blended these Zionists." A month later, on Feb. 11, he tweeted that the Super Bowl ad by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, which he mistakenly believed was sponsored by Israel, proved that the entire entertainment industry is complicit in genocide.

On January 26, the International Court of Justice ruled that no genocide has been committed in Gaza, despite allegations to the contrary by Rizvi and other protesters who gathered on Saturday.

Rizvi refused to comment on his online statements and writings, as well as the context behind his chanting on Saturday when contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital.

The protest against Israel at the Democratic National Convention in August began with a rally on Saturday in Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson rejected protesters' initial request to march near the convention. A coalition of protesters sued the city to march in a location where President Biden could hear and see them. The Coalition to March on the DNC spokesperson told Fight Back News that "Biden could stop the war with one phone call. He refuses to take action, and so we must protest."

The city must grant protesters a permit to protest closer to the convention by April 21, according to Axios. One protester stated that the group will march regardless of whether they receive a permit due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

In Chicago, where the mayor voted on a controversial cease-fire resolution in January, the Jewish population in Illinois has faced increased hate. The ADL reported that antisemitic incidents in Illinois rose 74% between 2022 and 2023. Of the 211 recorded incidents of vandalism, harassment, and assault, 68% occurred after Oct. 7.