An Illinois woman, Alexandra Szustakiewicz, was charged with two counts of hate crime and one count of disorderly conduct after attacking a man wearing a sweatshirt with the word “Palestine” written on it at a Panera Bread in Downers Grove. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, reaching over 1.2 million views. Szustakiewicz verbally and physically attacked a couple, identified as Waseem and his pregnant wife, for wearing a Palestine hoodie. Waseem, who shielded his wife from the attacks, expressed his frustration at being targeted simply for being Palestinian-American.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) condemned the incident, calling it part of a broader pattern of hostility towards Palestinian Americans and the Muslim community. CAIR documented nearly 5,000 bias complaints in the first half of 2024, a 69% increase from the previous year. This surge in hate crimes is attributed to escalating violence in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on Israel in 2023.
Recent incidents of hate crimes targeting Muslim-Americans and Arab-Americans have caused fear within the communities. From a fatal stabbing in Illinois to an attack on a Muslim man in New Jersey and an attempted drowning of a Muslim child in Texas, these incidents highlight the escalation of hate and intolerance in the United States. A New York City woman was also indicted for an anti-Muslim attack after pepper spraying an Uber driver earlier this year. Prosecutors emphasize the need for all members of society to be treated with respect and civility, condemning such harmful and prejudiced behavior.
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