(TAMPA, Fla., 3/4/2025) – The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Florida residents to sign an action alert urging State Attorney Amira D Fox to pursue hate crime charges against the man who allegedly carved two large Stars of David into a Palestine supporter’s truck. The incident occurred at the Costco at Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers.
ABC Gulf Coast News reported that the man, a radiologist from Ft. Myers, was ultimately charged with criminal mischief despite a report indicating that deputies investigating the incident believed “it may have been a hate crime.” The news outlet also reported that the victim told authorities the vandalism occurred because he was wearing a Palestine shirt and had a Palestine sticker on his vehicle.
SEE: Israel supporter arrested for vandalizing Palestine supporter’s truck at Costco in Lee County
Two prior incidents in which medical professionals targeted Muslims were not prosecuted as hate crimes.
Woman Goes on Anti-Muslim Rant in Fort Lauderdale Walgreens – NBC 6 South Florida
In a statement, CAIR-FL Communications Director Wilfredo Amr Ruiz said:
“The silence from State Attorney Amira Fox’s office is deafening. It seems as if medical professionals have unwarranted protection against hate crime prosecution. This act appears to have been committed out of hate against Palestinians. We call on State Attorney Fox to bring hate crime charges against the perpetrator of this crime. She has a moral obligation to assure Palestinian-American residents of their safety and security against such acts of bigotry.”
Ruiz noted that in February, CAIR-FL also called for hate crime enhancement charges against Miami Beach resident Mordechai Brafman, who shot two Jewish Israeli tourists he mistakenly believed were Palestinians. Last week, Miami-Dade prosecutors added a hate crime enhancement to the charges against Brafman, elevating two counts of second-degree attempted murder to first-degree attempted murder.
SEE: Hate crime enhancement added to charges against Miami Beach man after shooting ‘Palestinians’
This past month, Ruiz added, CAIR-FL also called for a censure of Palm Bay City Councilman Chandler Langevin for his inflammatory and xenophobic anti-Muslim remarks, in which he claimed that Muslims “do not belong” in the United States.
Last year, CAIR-FL called for the Florida legislature to censure of state Rep. Randy Fine after he posted an anti-Muslim tweet celebrating the murder of Turkish-American human rights activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi and appeared to call for more killing.
Ruiz noted that from January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
Last year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
About CAIR-Florida:
CAIR-Florida is the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, foster dialogue, safeguard civil liberties for all, empower American Muslims, and form coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
END
CONTACT:
Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, CAIR-FL Communications Director
[email protected] | (305) 502-6749
