(TAMPA, FL, 3/3/2025) – 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 Amira D. Fox, state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit, to pursue hate crime charges following the arrest of William Hearn—an Israel supporter—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.
Hearn was ultimately charged with criminal mischief, despite a report from NBC Gulf Coast News 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
In a statement, CAIR-FL Communications Director Wilfredo Amr Ruiz said:
“We urge state law enforcement authorities to bring hate crime charges in this case based on the alleged perpetrator’s anti-Palestinian motive.”
Ruiz added: “The most effective way to prevent these alleged hate crimes from occurring—not only in Lee County but across the state—is to charge those responsible with hate crimes. This is essential to keeping Arab and Palestinian communities safe from the wave of hate incidents they have increasingly faced in the past year.”
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 the censure of Palm Bay City Councilman Chandler Langevin for inflammatory and xenophobic anti-Muslim remarks in which he claimed that Muslims “do not belong” in the United States.
Last year, CAIR-FL called on the Florida Legislature to censure 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 killings.
Ruiz noted that from January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide—a 69% increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remains Elevated in First Half of 2024
Last year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which documented the highest number of complaints in the organization’s 30-year history. Titled Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate, the report recorded 8,061 complaints, nearly half of which were reported in the final three months of 2023.
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.
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CONTACT:
Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, CAIR-FL Communications Director
[email protected] | (305) 502-6749
