The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) today welcomed the guilty plea in Stoughton District Court by Nicholas Lance, who was charged with destruction of property after ripping a Palestinian flag off a truck belonging to a Palestinian American man. CAIR-MA represents the victim in the case, who wishes not to be identified.
Judge Brian Walsh sentenced Lance to pretrial probation for one year, restitution for the damages caused by breaking off the flag on the victim’s truck, and at CAIR-MA’s recommendation, anger management classes. After hearing the victim’s Victim Impact Statement, Judge Walsh added the requirement that Lance write a letter of apology.
The incident occurred in a parking lot on August 8, 2024, in Canton, when Lance reportedly launched into a tirade of anti-Palestinian slurs and obscenities against the victim, calling him a “fu*king terrorist” and a “fu*king piece of garbage.” The victim attempted to avoid an altercation by driving out of the lot but Lance, who had entered his own car, allegedly blocked the victim’s truck, preventing him from exiting the parking lot. Lance then allegedly ran up to the victim’s vehicle, still screaming at him, spat on the window, and tore off the Palestinian flag, damaging the flag mount.
CAIR-MA attorney Mariam Aydah said, “While we are grateful that Lance was identified and prosecuted, we were disappointed that this matter was not treated as a hate crime. It was clear that our client was targeted because of the Palestinian flag on his truck — a visible expression of his identity. That said, we were grateful for the cooperation of the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office. We are also very pleased that Judge Walsh added the requirement for Lance to write a letter of apology — a sign that the court takes this matter seriously. But most of all, we want to commend our client for his courage — not only for reporting the attack, but for speaking up about the trauma he experienced and expressing his vulnerability in the pursuit of accountability for anti-Palestinian hate.”
The victim, who had just stopped briefly for an errand, described the encounter as deeply traumatizing: “When Lance first blocked my car, that’s when I felt real fear. I felt threatened and in immediate danger. I fly the Palestinian flag on my truck because it represents who I am: the son of a Palestinian refugee who was forced to flee his homeland in 1948. It represents something deeply personal to me — it’s a statement of identity, history, and struggle. But since that day, I haven’t flown my flag because I am scared I will be attacked physically if I fly it again.”
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: CAIR-MA Attorney Mariam Aydah, Esq., (413) 264-6675