Rosemont hotel no longer hosting pro-Palestinian event after receiving threats

The leader of a Pro-Palestinian organization confirmed Monday that the group's planned convention next month at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago has been canceled by the Rosemont hotel, which cited multiple threats it received about the gathering.

Osama Abu Irshaid, executive director of the Virginia-based American Muslims for Palestine, called the cancellation part of a concerted effort to delegitimize and silence Pro-Palestinian human rights voices in the U.S.

"The decision by the Hyatt Regency O'Hare to yield to pressure and threats to cancel our event is not an isolated incident," Irshaid said in a written statement. "We have witnessed similar cancellations of Palestinian, Arab, and

Muslim American events in locations like Orlando, (Florida) and Washington, D.C. Regrettably, by giving in to these threats, these establishments are inadvertently legitimizing and giving credibility to voices of bigotry, violence, and exclusion. In doing so, they contribute to the fueling of Islamophobia, anti-Arab, and Anti-Palestinian racism."

Hotel officials did not respond to a request for comment Monday, but in a statement to ABC 7 Sunday, a spokesperson said the hotel's top priority is the safety of its guests and employees.

"Given the heightened level of threats and violent acts around the world, we determined there currently is an increased risk to the safety and security of hotel guests, colleagues, and the community with this event," the statement reads. "After careful consideration of these issues, we have made the decision not to host this event at our hotel this year."