(CLEVELAND, OH, 10/23/23) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate an alleged vehicular assault on a Palestinian-American man as a hate crime.
On Sunday afternoon, an individual in a dark SUV reportedly hit the 20-year-old victim while he was walking on Cook Road on the border of Olmsted Falls and North Ridgeville.
The victim of the reported hit and run said he was walking home from eating lunch when a car slowed down and rolled down the window. The driver of the car allegedly started yelling at him using anti-Palestinian statements like “Kill all Palestinians,” “Long live Israel,” as he swerved his car to intimidate the victim. The driver then allegedly turned around and hit the man while shouting “DIE!”
He was transferred by EMS to St. John Westshore Hospital for his injuries.
Faten Odeh, CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Interim Executive Director said:
“We call on state, local and federal law enforcement authorities to monitor and investigate crimes related to the rising Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism. We hope the North Ridgeville Police Department and the FBI will collect all the information they need to charge this individual with a hate crime. We should all feel safe to walk down the street to grab a bite to eat, go to the store and go to school.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations encourages those experiencing acts of aggression, racism, and Islamophobia to call their local CAIR offices and report these incidents.
SEE ALSO: CAIR’s Report an Incident Form
If you have any information about this incident, call the North Ridgeville Police Department at 440-327-2191.
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.
CAIR-Philadelphia called for a hate crime investigation into an alleged vandalism that targeted United Muslim Islamic Center (UMIC), a South Philadelphia Islamic center.
CAIR-Ohio condemned the derogatory and offensive comments directed at State Representative Munira Abdullahi, Ohio’s first and only female Muslim legislator. Representative Abdullahi, a respected member of the Ohio House, was subject to harmful comments following her lone dissent on a recent symbolic resolution expressing support for Israel.
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.
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 is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
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-Cleveland Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, fodeh@cair.com, 216-830-2247