FBI called to investigate reported UW campus attack on Muslim student
Nov 28, 2016, 3:31 PM | Updated: 3:38 pm
A Muslim American student was attacked on the University of Washington campus in November. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Community leaders are calling on the FBI to investigate what they are concerned may be a hate crime against a Muslim American woman on the University of Washington campus.
The woman reported that she was hit by a man who struck her with a glass bottle earlier this month.
CAIR-WA announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for attack.
Earlier this month, at University of Washington’s Bothell campus, several Muslim students reported that they were approached by men who demanded that they remove their hijabs.
Chancellor Wolf Yeigh said the school will not tolerate the “abhorrent” behavior.
“This is not only a violation of the women’s right to practice their faith, it is also a clear violation of our values at UW Bothell,” he wrote in a letter to the campus community. “This is a serious offense.”
“We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. You should not tolerate it either. If you see it, or experience it, report it. Tell someone—a friend, a faculty member, Safe Campus, or Campus Safety, so that we can aggressively follow up,” he wrote.
At the time of the letter, Yeigh wrote UW Bothell was in the process of creating a bias response form for anyone on campus who has experienced, or been a witness to, an incident of bias or discrimination. This form will be available to the campus community within the next few days.
The UW reports follow similar reports of incidents since the election that resulted in a win for Donald Trump.
In a 60 Minutes interview, Trump had a message for his supporters who are harassing minorities: Knock it off.
Trump told CBS’ Lesley Stahl that he was “saddened” to hear that Latinos and Muslims are facing harassment.
“I am so saddened to hear that,” Trump said. “And I say, ‘Stop it.’ If it — if it helps, I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: ‘Stop it.’”
Stahl told Trump that his supporters had been writing racist slogans or sending degrading messages, particularly in schools. But the Republican also criticized the rash of protests that have broken out since he defeated his Democratic opponent, blaming the media and “professional protesters.”
Trump told Stahl he has seen “a very small amount” of racial slurs being directed at minorities since his election.
“I would say don’t do it, that’s terrible, because I’m going to bring this country together,” he said.
