The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of a suspect in Fairfield on suspicion of a hate crime after a high school student was reportedly targeted over her perceived immigration status.
SEE: Fairfield police investigating hate crime after girl assaulted for perceived immigration status
According to the Fairfield Police Department, on Wednesday morning, a 37-year-old Fairfield resident, identified as Victor Viera Chavez, allegedly approached a student walking to Fairfield High School near the 300 block of Dahlia Street, used “vulgar, race-based language” related to her perceived immigration status, and physically assaulted her. On Thursday, officers took Chavez into custody and booked him into Solano County Jail on several felony charges, including battery with serious bodily injury, child endangerment, and a hate-crime enhancement.
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Jeffrey Wang said:
“We welcome the Fairfield Police Department’s swift action in making this arrest. Targeting a student with violence and slurs is indefensible and must be met with accountability. We urge a complete investigation and for the District Attorney’s Office to bring appropriate charges under California’s hate-crime laws. Our youth—regardless of background or perceived immigration status—must be safe on their way to school and across our communities.”
CAIR-SFBA urges community members who experience or witness bias-motivated harassment or violence to report it to law enforcement and to contact CAIR-SFBA’s Civil Rights Department at 408-986-9874 or bit.ly/cairsfbareport.
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, ladam@cair.com