Murder of Palestinian-American Boy Amid Global Hate Crimes
Are you worried about the growth in hate crimes?
A six-year-old boy murdered
- Wadea Al-Fayoume, a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy, was fatally stabbed by his landlord in Plainfield, Illinois, in a racially motivated hate crime.
- Wadea was stabbed over two dozen times in the attack and died in the hospital. A funeral service and burial will be held today in the town of Bridgeview, which is sometimes referred to as "Little Palestine."
- Wadea's mother, Hanaan Shahin, 32, was also attacked and suffered over 12 stab wounds but survived. She was attacked with a military-style knife before running to the bathroom to call the police.
- The landlord, Joseph Czuba, 71, was charged with hate crimes. The Will County Sheriff's office said:
"Both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis."
- Biden said he was "sickened" by the crime:
"This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are."
Concern about growing of hate crimes
- The war between Israel and Hamas has raised security concerns worldwide, with the FBI tracking increased threats to both Muslims and Jews following the Hamas attack. Jewish and Muslim rights groups have reported a marked increase in hateful rhetoric on social media. Police forces are expanding their presence in Jewish and Muslim neighborhoods around the U.S.
- Pro-Palestinian rallies and protests around the world have also been the sites of discord. Inna Vernikov, a New York City council member, was arrested for bringing a handgun to a student demonstration supporting Palestinians.
- A man holding a Palestinian flag was attacked in Williamsburg, New York City.
- The BBC's headquarters in London were vandalized by Palestine Action, with red paint splashed at the building's entrance to condemn the news outlet's "biased reporting." Jewish schools were closed on Friday in the Netherlands and London for safety concerns.
- Rania Mustafa from the Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton, New Jersey, noted an increase in harassing phone calls and emails:
"It's been a very stressful week in all regards, from one end trying to convince the world that we're human and that our lives are as sacred as anyone else's lives and on the other end, trying to protect our own from being targeted. And protecting freedom of speech, of expressing opinions and solidarity with the Palestinian people."
Are you worried about the growth in hate crimes?
-Emma Kansiz
The Latest
-
The Long Arc: Taking Action in Times of Change“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” Martin Luther King Jr. Today in read more... Advocacy -
Thousands Displaced as Climate Change Fuels Wildfire Catastrophe in Los AngelesIt's been a week of unprecedented destruction in Los Angeles. So far the Palisades, Eaton and other fires have burned 35,000 read more... Environment -
Puberty, Privacy, and PolicyOn December 11, the Montana Supreme Court temporarily blocked SB99 , a law that sought to ban gender-affirming care for read more... Families -
Women Are Shaping This Election — Why Is the Media Missing It?As we reflect on the media coverage of this election season, it’s clear that mainstream outlets have zeroed in on the usual read more... Elections
Climate & Consumption
Health & Hunger
Politics & Policy
Safety & Security
I blame Trump.
He has given Americans permission.
Permission to HATE.
Permission to ATTACK.
Even Permission to KILL.
Trump is the Ugly Side of the American Psyche.
ATTENTION: Causes: Publisher, Editors, and Staff.
Retract and Correct Your Article Using the Mistranslation of Protest as Jihad
Words matter. Words can and do cause needless suffering and death.
What we need is a standard of what a hate crime is before we can define it. Is it hate crime to say boys should not participate in women's sports, some think so. Is it a hate crime to call someone a slur, some think so. Is it a hate crime to call for the genocide of an entire group of people, too many are now stating that it depends.
If I were to call to eliminate an entire group of people, I would be arrested. Why is the same allowed for others? If speech is considered a hate crime, then it needs to be enforced consistently. If it is not a hate crime then those that retaliate against speech they do not approve of should be disciplined.
until we can agree that a consistent set of rules are followed no matter whether they support our point of view, everything seems subjective and you will continue to find those that disagree doing violence to those who they disagree with. And many seem to get away with injuring and even killing others for their race or religion or even profession because those in power are not concerned with equal treatment, but forcing a narrative onto others.
Yes, especially as there is a constant flood of misinformation and disinformation on social media and other platforms.
Remember, if you see a video or hear something, CHECK YOUR SOURCES! If it's not from a reputable journalistic news site, don't believe it.
And we must all speak out against anti-Semitism and anti-Islam every time we hear it and see it. Denounce it, report it, and contact whatever authorities you can.
We all have a responsibility to protect the vulnerable.
Murder of Palestinian-American Boy Amid Global Hate Crimes
Are you worried about the growth in hate crimes?
YES.
So many on the Right pretend to live as Christians, but it just another lie told by the Right.
In the past, we have had all manner of deranged folks, the overwhelming majority of those on the Right are unwilling to condemn violence on the part of somewhat more normal people. This has lead to hate crimes against Asian Immigrants and Asian Americans, Hispanics and Blacks.
Now we see hate crimes being committed against people from the MidEast.
Stop supporting the Right with your money and your vote.
This is a very sad story but we don't know the whole story. These people move to America and don't assimilate, instead they spew their hatred and words of consequences. Maybe the mom was chanting death to America, Death to jews. We don't know.
I know all these pro Palestine people should move to Arab countries.
Is Causes an arm of hamas?
The death of ANY CHILD for any reason (health, accident, or whatever) is horrific. The MURDER of ANY CHILD from any region ...from any religion... is inexcusable PERIOD! Hate is mean and ugly and has no place in the life of a child.
People can attempt to cast blame on one side or another, but innocent children could hold the key to someday having a peaceful state between the various religions of the world.
I'm concerned about hate crimes against both Israelis and Palestinians. I see them both being targeted at large.
He listened to right wing talk radio and watched Fox News. It's high time that the right now step up and start taking responsibility for the hatred that they spread. People are being killed. CHILDREN are being killed.
This must stop. The right wing is now lower than low.
Yes very much! To much hate in the world
My soul is wounded after hearing about the attacks by Hamas, but also wounded learning about the way Palestinians have been treated for decades! The way they have been treated by the Jewish people starting in England in the 1900s caused Hamas to form and gain control. No group of people should be pushed to their limits. Not the Palestinians. Not the Jewish people. This is what happens when it does!
I have been watching several documentaries about Palestine and find myself absolutely APPALLED!
Is the person that murdered this boy in prison yet??????
I lay all of this at Trump's feet. He should be so proud to have stirred up so much hate and I don't believe he will ever stop. Hate and chaos are all he has going for him. Hillary Clinton was correct when she called his supporters the "deplorables".
We need to tackle conspiracy theories and right wing media rhedric
There is too much hatred, racism and dispicable behavior in this world. Satan is happy. We should be concerned and do what we can to build up our social framework and set the right example within our family and church.
Hate is irrational! Not only is it the absence of love it is a force of destruction. To violently murder a six year old child portrays the intensity of the violence that is unleashed in anyone who allows hate to control their thoughts and actions. Sadly, this evil is gaining control in too many people in our world as evidenced by the inability to express our thoughts and feelings in a rational and considerate manner to those who have different views and feelings.
Civility and unity require that we be able to allow and respect the individuality and differences of people in our environment who share space with us. Violence and War will continue to destroy people's and countries when HATE continues to thrive.
This totally sucks and it is an alarming warning to us all of the impact of growing hate speech that incourages violence. The ex-president is one of the worst violators.
We each need to stand up to hate speech and actions when we encounter them. This is no time for us to put our heads in the sand.
No reason to hate!
That's all it is. Hate. Spurned by greed, ignorance, and self-righteousness. That's all EVERY war is ever about.
Any compassionate human would be furious about travesties like this. With that said, it seems to me that the media plays a large role in inciting the kind of hate that impels people who are unstable to commit crimes like this. In my earlier days, we had laws in place to prevent the media from reporting anything but the facts of a situation. The media didn't twist the facts or take sides. We need to get back to that if we are going to regain moral ground and move forward with a more balanced understanding of events in this world.
Hate is irrational! Not only is it the absence of love it is a force of destruction. To violently murder a six year old child portrays the intensity of the violence that is unleashed in anyone who allows hate to control their thoughts and actions. Sadly, this evil is gaining control in too many people in our world as evidenced by the inability to express our thoughts and feelings in a rational and considerate manner to those who have different views and feelings.
Civility and unity require that we be able to allow and respect the individuality and differences of people in our environment who share space with us. Violence and War will continue to destroy people's and countries when HATE continues to thrive.
It's no coincidence when hate-speech grows (and with apologists for violence like @Reilly cheering it on) so do attacks and murders of those recipients of such hate-speech.
Stop supporting Zionist genocide! FREE PALESTINE!!!