Austin Police Classify Stabbing as Potential Hate Crime
What Happened:
Zacharia Doar, a 23-year-old Palestinian American was stabbed on Sunday evening near the University of Texas. The victim, an advocate of Palestinian rights, was attacked while in a vehicle displaying a “Free Palestine” scarf. Bert James Baker, 36, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Why It Matters:
This stabbing is now under review by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office as a possible hate crime, raising concerns regarding increasing hostilities towards Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities in the US. This incident coincides with a broader pattern of heightened communal tensions that mirror geopolitical conflicts.
The Response:
The local community has called on law enforcement to classify the violent episode as a hate crime. Members of CAIR have highlighted the incident’s prejudice-aligned motives, mourning the targeted violence against Muslim Americans expressing political solidarity.
About the Victim and Attacker:
Doar was in the company of other Muslim Americans coming from a pro-Palestinian event when the assault occurred. Official reports and an arrest affidavit detail the altercation, painting it in the light of a racially-driven confrontation. Baker, when interviewed by police following the crime, attributed his actions partly to excess alcohol consumption.
Legal Proceedings:
Baker currently sits in jail on a $100,000 bond. As the Hate Crimes Review Committee forwards their findings, prosecutors will decide on whether to enhance the charges considering the hate crime assessment.
Context:
With deepening divides brought on by the Israel-Hamas conflict, episodes of violence and discrimination against individuals based on their ethnicity or political views have surged in various parts of the United States. This case adds to a series of potential hate crimes across the nation where victims have been targeted due to their Palestinian heritage or Muslim faith.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.