Three Palestinian Students were shot near a university campus in Vermont, raising concerns about the rise of Islamophobia in the US. The attack occurred weeks after the tragic death of a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy. The victims were Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmed, all 20-year-old graduates of the Ramallah Friends School in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee believes the shooting occurred because the victims are Arab. The victims’ families called for a thorough investigation and emphasized the need to treat this incident as a hate crime. The investigation is ongoing, and the public is urged to avoid drawing conclusions based on incomplete information. The call for unity, thorough investigations, and strong condemnation from political leaders and organizations demonstrates the collective effort needed to combat these disturbing trends.
The Incident in Vermont: What Happened and When?
Three students of Palestinian descent became victims of what investigators suspect to be a hate-motivated crime. The attack took place around 6:25 pm on a Saturday near the University of Vermont, specifically on North Prospect Street in Burlington. According to the police, the victims were speaking Arabic, and two of them were wearing keffiyehs when they were attacked. Two of the victims sustained gunshot wounds to the torso, while the third was shot in the lower extremities.
The Victims: Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmed
The families identified the victims as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmed, all 20-year-old graduates of the Ramallah Friends School in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Two of the victims are US citizens, while the third is a legal US resident.
Hisham Awartani: A Palestinian-Irish-American student at Brown University, Awartani is described as a math genius. He sustained serious injuries, with a bullet striking his spinal cord, resulting in the loss of feeling in the lower part of his body. However, he is expected to survive, according to Brown University President Christina Paxson.
Kinnan Abdalhamid: Currently a student at Haverford College, Abdalhamid’s family resides overseas. Haverford College condemned the act, stating that they are awaiting word on whether it will be pursued as a hate crime.
Tahseen Ali Ahmed: A student at Trinity College in Connecticut, Ahmed was shot in the chest but is in stable condition. Trinity College released a statement urging support for Ahmed and his friends.
Arrest of the Suspect: Jason J Eaton
Authorities arrested Jason J Eaton, a 48-year-old man, while conducting a search of the shooting area. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents arrested Eaton during a search of his apartment in a building in front of the shooting location. Eaton is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, and evidence collected during the search will likely play a crucial role in the investigation.
Motive Behind the Attack: A Possible Hate Crime
Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad stated, “In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime.” The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee expressed a belief that the shooting occurred because the victims are Arab. While the investigation is ongoing, the public is urged to avoid drawing conclusions based on incomplete information.
Responses and Calls for Action
The victims’ families, represented by the Institute for Middle East Understanding, called for a thorough investigation and emphasized the need to treat this incident as a hate crime. US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged unequivocal denouncement of the rise of anti-Arab hate and Islamophobia in America.
Governor Phil Scott labeled the shooting a tragedy and called for unity among the state’s residents. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. Senator Bernie Sanders and the Coalition of Ivy League Students for Palestine also denounced the shooting, emphasizing the need to combat hate crimes.
Conclusion
The shooting of three Palestinian students in Vermont underscores the troubling rise of Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment in the US. As the investigation progresses, it is imperative to address the root causes of such incidents and work towards fostering a society that embraces diversity and condemns acts of hatred. The call for unity, thorough investigations, and strong condemnation from political leaders and organizations demonstrates the collective effort needed to combat these disturbing trends.
