(CHICAGO, IL, 10/25/2023) – The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today welcomed hate crime charges for a man who allegedly pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters in Skokie, Illinois.
Police said that a 33-year-old man who allegedly pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters in Skokie on Sunday has been charged with a hate crime. The man received two felony counts of aggravated battery and two felony hate crime charges for the incident.
SEE: Illinois man who pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters charged with hate crimes, authorities say
In a statement, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said:
“We welcome the hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator of this assault. It is imperative that law enforcement prosecute all hate crimes targeting American Muslims and Palestinian-Americans as these incidents continue to rise.”
He noted that today, CAIR-National reported that it has received 774 complaints, including reported bias incidents, since the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine on Oct. 7.
SEE: CAIR Reports Sharp Increase in Complaints, Reported Bias Incidents Since 10/7
BACKGROUNDER ON INCREASED ANTI-MUSLIM BIGOTRY SINCE ESCALATION OF MIDEAST VIOLENCE
CAIR and its affiliates nationwide have documented an increase in incidents of anti-Muslim bigotry in the weeks following the escalation of violence in Gaza.
On Oct. 23, CAIR-SV/CC called for hate crime charges for the perpetrator of a truck attack at a pro-Palestine rally in Fresno.
SEE: CAIR-Sacramento Valley/Central California Calls for Hate Crime Charges in Truck Attack at Fresno Palestine Support Rally
Also on Oct. 23, CAIR-Cleveland called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate an alleged vehicular assault on a Palestinian-American man as a hate crime.
SEE: CAIR-Cleveland Seeks Hate Crime Probe After Vehicular Assault on Palestinian-American by Driver Shouting ‘Kill all Palestinians,’ ‘Long live Israel’
On Oct. 20, CAIR-Philadelphia called for a hate crime investigation into an alleged vandalism that targeted United Muslim Islamic Center (UMIC), a South Philadelphia Islamic center.
SEE: CAIR-Philadelphia Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Vandalism Targeting South Philadelphia Mosque
On Oct. 19, CAIR-Chicago announced that hate crime charges were brought against a man who reportedly threatened to shoot two Muslim men after allegedly shouting anti-Muslim statements.
SEE: CAIR-Chicago Announces Hate Crime Charges Were Filed Against Man Who Reportedly Threatened to Shoot 2 Muslim Men
CAIR-SFBA recently condemned a verbal assault on a Muslim woman on her way to pick up her daughter from school.
SEE: Video: CAIR-SFBA Condemns Possible Hate Crime Targeting Muslim Woman
On Oct. 17, CAIR-LA condemned an attack targeting students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) while they attended a virtual Palestine Emergency Panel.
SEE: CAIR-LA Condemns Attacks Against Pro-Palestine UCLA Students, Calls for Investigation and Ban by School
On Oct. 16, CAIR-LA condemned an attack targeting pro-Palestinian protesters during a demonstration in West Los Angeles.
SEE: CAIR-LA Condemns Attack on Pro-Palestinian Protesters in Los Angeles
On Oct. 16, CAIR called on law enforcement authorities to investigate a threatening message sent to an Oregon Islamic organization as a possible hate crime.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of ‘Die Muslims Die’ Message to Oregon Islamic Organization
On Oct. 15, CAIR-Chicago decried the reported stabbing death of a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy and the stabbing of his mother.
SEE: BREAKING: CAIR-Chicago Calls for Hate Crime Charge for ‘You Muslims Must Die’ Killing of Palestinian-American Child
On Oct. 13, CAIR-Texas called for the arrest of several men seen harassing students at the University of Texas during a Palestine Solidarity Committee meeting on the recent violence and deaths in the Gaza Strip.
SEE: CAIR-Texas Calls for Campus Ban of Men who Harassed Students at U. Texas Palestinian Solidarity Meeting
Also on Oct. 13, CAIR-MI applauded the swift arrest of a Michigan resident who was allegedly making credible threats against Palestinians in Dearborn and calls on prosecutors to charge Farmington Hills resident with a hate crime under Michigan’s current Ethnic Intimidation Law.
SEE: CAIR-MI Welcomes Arrest of Person Allegedly Threatening to Shoot Palestinians in Dearborn, Calls for Hate Crime Enhancement
Also on Oct. 13, CAIR-Cleveland called for a hate crime investigation after an individual reportedly breached security protocols to gain unauthorized access to its office in an apparent attempt to disrupt the private event held by the civil rights organization.
SEE: CAIR-Cleveland Calls for Hate Crime Probe After Harasser Breaches Office
On Oct. 12, CAIR-NY condemned alleged anti-Palestinian attacks in Brooklyn and called on public officials and the media to end anti-Palestinian incitement.
SEE: CAIR-NY Condemns Anti-Palestinian Attacks in Brooklyn, Urges Officials and Media to End Anti-Palestinian Incitement
On Oct. 11, CAIR-Chicago reported a spike in hate calls/emails, and community concern outreach since the outbreak of violence in the Middle East.
SEE: CAIR-Chicago Reports Spike in Hate Messages, Community Concerns Received After Outbreak of Mideast Violence
Also on Oct. 11, CAIR’s Maryland office condemned growing reports it is receiving of Muslim and Arab students experiencing harassment and intimidation in public high schools and on college and university campuses.
SEE: CAIR’s Maryland Office Condemns Growing Reports of Muslim, Arab Students Harassed on School and College Campuses
On Oct. 10, CAIR-MA called on law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism targeting a sign for Palestinian and Islamic organizations in Boston as a possible hate crime.
SEE: BREAKING: CAIR-MA Calls for Hate Crime Probe of ‘Nazis’ Vandalism Targeting Boston Palestinian, Islamic Sign
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: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, arehab@cair.com; Erin P.R. Davis, MCM, Communications Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago, 773-802-8786, epdavis@cair.com