SHAKEN BUT UNBROKEN Man charged in alleged hate crime against Muslim mom daughter in Hamilton
PM Trudeau tweeted he strongly condemned such 'violent, hateful, and abhorrent behaviour'
Author of the article:
Chris Doucette
Publishing date:
Jul 14, 2021 • 11 minutes ago • 2 minute read • 10 Comments
A Hamilton Police cruiser. Photo by Brad Hunter /Toronto Sun Article content A 40-year-old man is accused of almost running down a Muslim mother and daughter in Hamilton, then chasing after the pair, hurling racial slurs and threatening to kill them.
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Article contentHamilton Police say the alleged hate crime â€" which comes five weeks after a pickup truck driver ran down a Muslim family in London, Ont., killing four people and seriously injuring a fifth â€" unfolded as the mother and daughter walked through a plaza parking lot in the Ancaster Meadowlands around 9:30 p.m. on Monday.
“An interaction occurred after a vehicle pulling out of a parking spot almost struck one of the victims,†police said in a statement. “The interaction escalated with the suspect uttering threats towards the victims while using racial slurs targeting the Muslim community.
“The victims ran across the street and hid behind some bushes while the suspect searched for them,†police said, alleging the man “eventually located them and threatened to kill them.â€
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Article contentPolice said one of the victims “ran screaming for help†and bystanders intervened as the motorist took off.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims posted a message on Twitter saying they are “deeply saddened to hear of yet another terrifying, seemingly Islamaphobia-motivated attack on two Muslim women wearing hijab.â€
We at NCCM were deeply saddened to hear of yet another terrifying attack on two Muslim women wearing hijab in Hamilton.
See statement from the family below: pic.twitter.com/PZHkJRcCvp
â€" NCCM (@nccm) July 13, 2021 AdvertisementStory continues below
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Article contentThe NCCM also released a statement from the family of the mother and daughter.
“We are shaken but unbroken after the attack on our family,†the statement reads. “Let us be clear: This individual attempted to terrorize our family.
“In light of the London attack, this is incredibly terrifying for our family,†the family says, before urging the government to “commit to taking stronger action.â€
On Twitter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “deeply disturbed by reports of an Islamophobic attack on Muslim women in Hamilton†and he strongly condemned such “violent, hateful, and abhorrent behaviour.â€
I’m deeply disturbed by reports of an Islamophobic attack on Muslim women in Hamilton yesterday - and I strongly condemn this violent, hateful, and abhorrent behaviour. It has no place in our country or any of our communities. We will continue to stand together and take action.
â€" Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 13, 2021 AdvertisementStory continues below
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Article content“It has no place in our country or any of our communities,†Trudeau tweeted. “We will continue to stand together and take action.â€
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath also took to Twitter to denounce Islamophobia.
“My heart is with the women who endured this hateful attack, their family & Muslim communities across #HamOnt & Ontario,†Horwath said. “Everyone deserves to walk down the street in peace, without fear.â€
“Urgent government action to fight Islamophobia is long overdue & desperately needed.â€
My heart is with the women who endured this hateful attack, their family & Muslim communities across #HamOnt & Ontario.
Everyone deserves to walk down the street in peace, without fear. Urgent government action to fight Islamophobia is long overdue & desperately needed. #ONpoli https://t.co/5fjlQI1H2c
â€" Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) July 13, 2021 AdvertisementStory continues below
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Article contentIn a video posted on Twitter, Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen said he is outraged by the “blatant acts of hatred†that have left the city’s Muslim community “feeling unsafe.â€
“We stand with the Muslim community here in Hamilton and across the country in condemning Islamophobia,†Bergen said. “These incidents are taken seriously and then fully investigated.â€
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Article content“As chief, I am offering my support and assurance that Hamilton police will continue to do everything we can to ensure your safety,†he added.
Vince Licata, of Cambridge, is charged with three counts of uttering threat to cause death, two counts of assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failure to comply with a probation order.
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Police ask any witnesses to this incident to call the investigator at 905-546-3851 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
cdoucette@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @SunDoucette
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