A woman from a suburb of Chicago is facing charges for committing a hate crime after allegedly confronting a Palestinian man who was wearing a sweatshirt with the word “Palestine” emblazoned on it. The incident reportedly escalated when she attempted to knock a cellphone from the hands of the man’s pregnant wife as she recorded the altercation.
Alexandra Szustakiewicz, 64, was brought to court on Monday, where she was arraigned on two felony counts of committing a hate crime, as well as a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. During the court proceedings, a judge from DuPage County mandated that Szustakiewicz must avoid any contact with the victims and remain away from the restaurant where the incident occurred on Saturday. Her next court date has been set for December 16.
Attempts to reach Szustakiewicz’s public defender for comments regarding the allegations went unanswered as of Tuesday. According to a news release from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office along with police from Downers Grove, the confrontation took place at a Panera Bread location, where Szustakiewicz reportedly shouted obscenities at the man because of his sweatshirt.
The complaint against her claims she committed a hate crime based on the perceived national origin of the victims. Robert Berlin, the DuPage County State’s Attorney, stated that behaviors driven by prejudice and hostility are unacceptable in a civilized society.
Waseem Zahran, the Palestinian man involved in the incident, recounted how Szustakiewicz approached him while he wore the “Palestine” hoodie, yelling insults and targeting his pregnant wife. He noted that this kind of harassment is not new to him, as his family has faced similar threats for their Palestinian identity for years.
“Since I was a child, I’ve witnessed my family endure threats and verbal assaults,” Zahran explained. However, he remarked that being physically attacked was a first for him personally. Zahran tried to defuse the situation multiple times, even after Szustakiewicz allegedly struck him and attempted to pour hot coffee on his wife, all while continuing to swing at her even after he informed her of her pregnancy.
In a statement released by the Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Zahran expressed his shock at the incident, emphasizing that he is a proud American who was merely out for lunch with his wife.
Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, condemned the incident, emphasizing the disturbing pattern of harassment faced by Palestinians, especially in a country where they should feel safe. He remarked on the irony of anti-Palestinian sentiment following individuals from Europe to the United States and underscored the pressing need for acknowledgment and action against such prejudice.