War against Palestinians begins in the US

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HISHAM AWARTANI, KINNAN ABDALHAMID, AND TAHSEEN AHMED (PHOTO: SOCIAL MEDIA)

Three Palestinian students shot in Vermont in apparent hate crime
Three Palestinian students were shot and injured in Burlington, Vermont in an apparent hate crime. The suspect remains at large.
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/11/three-palestinian-students-shot-in-vermont-in-apparent-hate-crime/?

Three Palestinian college students were shot and wounded on their way to a family dinner in Burlington, Vermont, on Saturday night.

Authorities say that they responded to reports of a shooting around 6:30 p.m. and found two wounded males, with a third victim a short distance away.

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said that the three students "were confronted by a white male with a handgun" who shot at least four rounds at them "without speaking." Two of the students were wearing keffiyehs at the time of the attack.

On Sunday afternoon police arrested 48-year old suspect Jason Eaton, after a search of his home 

Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian mission to the UK, identified the victims as Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ahmed, and Kinnan Abdalhamid, who are undergraduate students at Brown University, Trinity College, and Haverford College, respectively.

Apparent hate crime
The families of the victims have put out a statement about the incident. They called for a "thorough investigation, including treating this as a hate crime." Their statement reads in full:

"As parents, we are devastated by the horrific news that our children were targeted and shot in Burlington, VT. At this time, our primary concern is their full recovery and that they receive the critical medical support they need to survive. We are extremely concerned about the safety and well-being of our children.

We call on law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation, including treating this as a hate crime. We will not be comfortable until the shooter is brought to justice. We need to ensure that our children are protected, and this heinous crime is not repeated. No family should ever have to endure this pain and agony. Our children are dedicated students who deserve to be able to focus on their studies and building their futures.

We are grateful to the doctors and nurses who are working tirelessly to save our children's lives, and to city officials who are giving their full attention to this horrific hate crime in the pursuit of justice.

We appreciate the outpouring of care from our community. We ask that no one make donations to fundraisers unless specifically organized by our families. At this time, we ask for privacy to give us the space to provide our children with the support they need to get through this tragedy."

Zomlot, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), said they had reason to believe that the shooting was a hate crime motivated by the students' ethnicity.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators.

"Due to the unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate and violence we have witnessed in recent weeks, local, state and national law enforcement authorities must investigate a possible bias motive for the shooting of these three young men," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

"In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime," Murad said in a statement. "And I have already been in touch with federal investigatory and prosecutorial partners to prepare for that if it's proven."

"It is shocking and deeply upsetting that three young Palestinians were shot here in Burlington, VT," tweeted Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. "Hate has no place here, or anywhere. I look forward to a full investigation. My thoughts are with them and their families."