The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed hate crime charges brought against a man who allegedly made racist anti-Arab, anti-Asian threats and comments targeting Arab and Asian sorority members meeting at the University of Wisconsin in Madison last year.
Three men reportedly harassed students of the multicultural Sigma Psi Zeta sorority, threatening Arab and Asian members. Lukas Nowak, 20, is charged with one count of making terroristic threats, one count of disorderly conduct using a dangerous weapon and two counts of disorderly conduct, all four charges have a hate crime enhancer. Nowak was named as the “primary suspect” in the incident. He allegedly approached one of the sorority members and asked if she was Saudi Arabian, then allegedly said “I’m going to kill you.”
“We welcome the hate crime enhancements to the charges in this disturbing case and hope these strong actions by law enforcement authorities will deter others who would turn their hate-filled views into violent actions,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
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.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
In an update in July, CAIR said the surge in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate that erupted last October continues in the first half of the 2024.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@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