The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Florida chapter (CAIR-Florida), the nation and state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed news that the University of South Florida Police Department (USFPD) has filed felony hate-crime–enhanced charges against two men involved in the Islamophobic harassment of Muslim students praying inside a USF parking garage.
USFPD announced late Thursday that Christopher Svochak of Waco, Texas, and Richard Penskoski of Canyon, Oklahoma, have been charged with multiple offenses, including Disturbing schools and religious and other assemblies, upgraded to a felony under Florida’s hate crime enhancement statute, along with misdemeanor counts of Disorderly Conduct and Disrupting School or Lawful Assembly. Both men, who have no affiliation with USF, are also being issued trespass warnings barring them from campus.
USFPD confirmed that a third suspect seen in the video remains unidentified, and the investigation is ongoing.
CAIR-Florida Calls for Swift Arrest of Third Suspect
In response to the update, CAIR-Florida Communications Director Wilfredo A. Ruiz said:
“CAIR-Florida welcomes the prompt action taken by USF Police and the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office in bringing charges against the two individuals responsible for harassing Muslim students as they engaged in prayer. These arrests send a clear message that Islamophobic intimidation on campus will not be tolerated.
“We now urge USF Police to continue their efforts to swiftly identify and arrest the third suspect seen in the video so that all individuals involved in this hateful incident are held fully accountable.”
CAIR-Florida Urges Hollywood Police and FBI to Act on Second Hate Crime Incident
Ruiz also renewed CAIR-Florida’s call for Hollywood Police and the FBI to move swiftly in the second, separate incident reported the same day in Hollywood, Fla., in which another group of Muslim students was harassed while praying publicly.
“In Hollywood, Muslim students were similarly targeted and harassed during prayer. We call on Hollywood Police and federal authorities, including the FBI, to fully investigate that incident as a potential hate crime, bring the perpetrators to justice, and reassure the community that such acts of bigotry will be treated with the seriousness they deserve,” Ruiz said.
Growing Climate of Anti-Muslim Hostility
CAIR-Florida notes that these incidents occur amid a sharp rise in reported Islamophobic harassment and hate-motivated behavior across the country. The organization continues to urge educational institutions, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to take proactive steps to safeguard Muslim students and ensure that their right to practice their faith freely is protected.
CAIR-Florida encourages anyone with information about the USF incident to contact USFPD at (813) 974-2628, and anyone with information about the Hollywood incident to contact the Hollywood Police Department or the FBI.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Wilfredo A. Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, (305) 502-6749, wruiz@cair.com;
Megan Amer, CAIR-Florida Policy Director, (813) 440-1028, m-amer@cair.com;
Hiba Rahim, CAIR-Florida Deputy Executive Director, (813) 705-5440, hrahim@cair.com;
CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com;
CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com;
CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com;
CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com