(WASHINGTON D.C., 12/29/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement authorities in Utah to investigate an alleged attack on a bus driver in South Salt Lake as a possible hate crime.
A suspect, Cameron Michael Ward, 25, was arrested for allegedly trying to gouge a bus driver’s eye on Dec. 20. The alleged victim believes he was attacked due to his Asian-American heritage. The suspect was charged with two first-degree felonies of disarming a police officer, one third-degree felony count of aggravated assault, two misdemeanor counts of assaulting an officer, and one misdemeanor of interfering with an arrest.
“I didn’t put it together till I got to the hospital why this guy was asking me where I’m from and I’m like, ‘I’m from Salt Lake City,’” the alleged victim told Fox 13. “Then I thought, ‘Oh, he means what country are you from,’ so I’m thinking this is more or less a hate crime.”
It is unclear if law enforcement authorities are treating the incident as a possible hate crime.
SEE: Man accused of trying to attack bus driver because he was Asian
Man charged with attacking UTA bus driver, fighting with police officers
Man charged in attack on UTA bus driver and police officers
https://www.ksl.com/article/50546836/man-charged-in-attack-on-uta-bus-driver-and-police-officers-
“We urge law enforcement authorities to take the reported statements of the alleged attacker seriously and to investigate a possible bias motive for this disturbing incident,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
He said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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 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 Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com