Tag:

Hate crimes

UK Rap Duo's Visas Revoked After 'Death To The IDF,' Pro-Palestine Chants UK Rap Duo's Visas Revoked After 'Death To The IDF,' Pro-Palestine Chants
UK Rap Duo's Visas Revoked After 'Death To The IDF,' Pro-Palestine Chants An English rap duo has been banned from performing in the US after leading pro-Palestinian chants at the popular Glastonbury Festival. The visas for Bob Vylan have been revoked, the State Department said on Monday, June 30. The revocations were announced in a social media post by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The group's lead singer, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, led chants like "free, free Palestine" and "death, death to the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces]" during the performance on Saturday, June 28. "The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for th…
Latest Update: Suspect ID'd, 8 Burned In Shocking Flamethrower Attack At Colorado Event Latest Update: Suspect ID'd, 8 Burned In Shocking Flamethrower Attack At Colorado Event
Latest Update: Suspect ID'd, 8 Burned In Shocking Flamethrower Attack At Colorado Event A suspect has been identified after what the FBI described as a "targeted terror attack" in which victims were allegedly set on fire at a demonstration outside a Colorado courthouse. The incident occurred in Boulder at the outdoor Pearl Street Mall on Sunday afternoon, June 1. Eight injuries, ranging from minor to serious have been reported, Boulder Police said. Two victims were airlifted to a burn unit with serious injuries. Officers rushed to the scene at 1325 Pearl St. and arrested the suspect at 1:32 p.m. local time. The suspect has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soli…
Man Made Nazi Salute, Attempted To Rip Down Pride Flag At Donut Shop: Matawan Police Man Made Nazi Salute, Attempted To Rip Down Pride Flag At Donut Shop: Matawan Police
Man Made Nazi Salute, Attempted To Rip Down Pride Flag At Donut Shop: Matawan Police A 61-year-old Holmdel man was arrested and charged on Saturday, March 29, after he attempted to rip down a pride flag from Main Street Donuts, later returning to make a Nazi salute, authorities said. At 11:45 a.m., officers responded to the donut shop at 141 Main St. and learned a man, later identified as Maciej Wojciak, with a t-shirt tied around his head as a mask, attempted to remove a Pride flag from in front of the business, damaging the metal bracket, Matawan police said. The owner got into a struggle with Wojciak, who fled the scene prior to officers arrival, police said. Wojciak lat…
VA Named Best State For Supporting Immigrants, New Study Says: Here's Why VA Named Best State For Supporting Immigrants, New Study Says: Here's Why
VA Named Best State For Supporting Immigrants, New Study Says: Here's Why A new study says some mid-Atlantic states are among the nation's leaders for having the best conditions for immigrants. Virginia ranked No. 1 as the most welcoming state for immigrants, while Arizona was named the worst, according to the study from SmileHub. The report evaluated states on 17 key factors, including the share of immigrants, job opportunities, and legal protections. The study was released as concerns rise over the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented migrants, which is also increasing fears among immigrants legally in the US. "Over 51 million immigrants live …
Gaithersburg Is The Most Diverse City In US, New Study Says: Here's Why Gaithersburg Is The Most Diverse City In US, New Study Says: Here's Why
Gaithersburg Is The Most Diverse City In US, New Study Says: Here's Why The US population is rapidly diversifying, with cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at the forefront, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 ranking of the nation's Most Diverse Cities on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Three Maryland communities topped the list of 501 locations, which were evaluated based on socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious diversity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2 percent of Americans identified as multiracial in 2020, a sharp increase from just 2.9 percent in 2010. "The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many …
Scarsdale Teacher Turned Hero: Man Earns Medal For Saving Woman In Subway Attack Scarsdale Teacher Turned Hero: Man Earns Medal For Saving Woman In Subway Attack
Scarsdale Teacher Turned Hero: Man Earns Medal For Saving Woman In Subway Attack A Westchester art teacher has been awarded a prestigious medal for his heroic actions in saving a woman from a violent attack on a New York City subway.  The award, announced by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, honors 29-year-old Scarsdale High School teacher John Catania, who risked his life on Nov. 22, 2022, to intervene as a man attacked a 28-year-old woman with a bladed weapon on a subway train in New York City.  Catania rushed at the 6-foot-4 assailant after witnessing him slash the woman’s face and strike her again. His brave intervention gave the woman time to escape to a…
Woman Admits To Threatening Catskill Resident In Racially Charged Facebook Messages Woman Admits To Threatening Catskill Resident In Racially Charged Facebook Messages
Woman Admits To Threatening Catskill Resident In Racially Charged Facebook Messages A woman has pleaded guilty to sending racially motivated death threats to a man in  New York. Kristin Keeble, age 54, of Pageland, South Carolina, admitted to transmitting threats to injure another person across state lines, according to the US Attorney's Office of the Northern District of New York. Keeble sent four profanity-laced, racially derogatory audio messages through Facebook Messenger on Oct. 26, 2023  to a Greene County man who resides in the village of Catskill. In the messages, she threatened to kill the man, along with a woman he knew and the woman's children, claimi…
School-Aged Children, College Students In Maryland Among Recipients Of Racist Text Messages: AG School-Aged Children, College Students In Maryland Among Recipients Of Racist Text Messages: AG
School-Aged Children, College Students In Maryland Among Recipients Of Racist Text Messages: AG Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is imploring possible victims to come forward after the state was the latest to be targeted by a series of racist text messages that have been circulating. Brown issued an alert this week advising that his office has received multiple complaints about racist messages that were sent to Black residents, including some school-aged children and college-aged students, "causing significant distress." "Without knowing or making any assumptions about the senders’ true intent," Anne Arundel County Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell said in a statement.  …
Students Targeted With Racial Texts At Nyack School District Students Targeted With Racial Texts At Nyack School District
Students Targeted With Racial Texts At Nyack School District Officials are investigating after several Hudson Valley students were the targets of explicitly racist text messages that were also sent to Black and Brown students in several states since Election Day. The incidents occurred in Rockland County on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Nyack's middle and high schools. "While there are slight variations in the wording, these texts are horrific and explicitly racist, specifically threatening “to make students slaves, take them to plantations to pick cotton or that they will be deported to Africa,” said Nyack School District Intermin Superintende…
'I Want To Put A Bullet In Your Head' PA Man Gets Jail For Anti-Semitic, Islamophobic Rant 'I Want To Put A Bullet In Your Head' PA Man Gets Jail For Anti-Semitic, Islamophobic Rant
'I Want To Put A Bullet In Your Head' PA Man Gets Jail For Anti-Semitic, Islamophobic Rant A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 16 months in prison for making threatening antisemitic, Islamophobic rants over the phone, authorities said. Yaniv Gola, 51, was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 22 after being charged for making phone calls threatening to injure, rape, and kill eight different victims, the US Department of Justice said in a news release.  After serving the prison time, Gola will be placed under three years of supervised release, the Department of Justice said. The calls were made between Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 and Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, according to the news release. Gola …
Former Bridgwater Officer, West Milford Special Officer Thomas Dinan Dies Former Bridgwater Officer, West Milford Special Officer Thomas Dinan Dies
Former Bridgwater Officer, West Milford Special Officer Thomas Dinan Dies Thomas Dinan, a police officer in West Milford, died on Tuesday, July 30, 10 days after his 66th birthday, the department announced. Dinan joined the West Milford Police Department in June 2018 as a Class II special officer, assisting with traffic details, township events, prisoner watches and transports and court security, police said. Prior to joining West Milford, Dinan spent 27 years in the Bridgewater Police Department, rising to the rank of lieutenant, before retiring in 2015 after serving as patrol officer, narcotics investigator, bias crimes officer and counterterrorism liaison, pol…
Pride Flags Pulled Down At Natick Churches, Anti-LGBTQ Letters Left Behind Pride Flags Pulled Down At Natick Churches, Anti-LGBTQ Letters Left Behind
Pride Flags Pulled Down At Natick Churches, Anti-lgbtq Letters Left Behind Two Natick churches said they had flags showing support of the LGBTQ community torn down and replaced with banners proclaiming "Jesus Is King" over the weekend. Anti-gay letters were also left behind at the houses of worship.  Christ Lutheran Church and First Congregational Church of Natick posted on Facebook about the incidents that happened late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, July 27-28.  First Congregational Rev. Cindy Worthington-Berry posted that the church's pride, transgender, and mental health flags were all removed and thrown under some nearby bushes.&n…
Man Sentenced For 'Hate-Filled' Rampage That Injured Five Orthodox Jews In South Jersey: Feds Man Sentenced For 'Hate-Filled' Rampage That Injured Five Orthodox Jews In South Jersey: Feds
Man Sentenced For 'Hate-Filled' Rampage That Injured Five Orthodox Jews In South Jersey: Feds A Manchester Township man will spend decades in prison after a series of antisemitic attacks in Ocean County that injured five Orthodox Jewish men, authorities said. Dion Marsh, 29, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 23 to 40 years in prison, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. He previously pleaded guilty to five counts of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and one count of carjacking on Thursday, Feb. 1. Marsh admitted to injuring five victims because they're Jewish, attempting to kill four …
Israeli Flag Defaced At Hudson Valley Service Center, Police Investigating Israeli Flag Defaced At Hudson Valley Service Center, Police Investigating
Israeli Flag Defaced At Hudson Valley Service Center, Police Investigating For the second time in two weeks, an Israeli flag has been the target of vandals at a Hudson Valley service station. The incident occurred in Rockland County early Friday, May 24, at the Monsey Service Center on Main Street in Monsey. According to Lauren Pepper, the manager of the center and daughter of the owner, Joe Kurek, another flag was stolen on Friday, May 17. They quickly replaced the stolen flag with a new one that was defaced sometime in the overnight hours of Thursday, May 23, into Friday, May 24, said Lt. Chris Franklin of the Ramapo Police. Franklin said the flag was defaced …
Hate Crimes, Harassment Of Same-Sex Couple In Maryland Neighborhood Lands Man Jail Time Hate Crimes, Harassment Of Same-Sex Couple In Maryland Neighborhood Lands Man Jail Time
Hate Crimes, Harassment Of Same-Sex Couple In Maryland Neighborhood Lands Man Jail Time A hateful man who targeted a same-sex couple in his neighborhood is to serve more than a year in jail, the Frederick County State's Attorney announced. Thurmont resident Michael David Burns was sentenced to nine years, with all but 18 months suspended to be served in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center after being convicted on 10 counts, including multiple hate crimes involving his neighbors. Prosecutors say that the victims, a same-sex couple who are neighbors of Burns, reported the trespassing and harassment last year directly to the State’s Attorney’s Office, prompting a len…
6 Western Mass Teens Held Mock 'Slave Auction,' Made Racist Comments On Social Media: DA 6 Western Mass Teens Held Mock 'Slave Auction,' Made Racist Comments On Social Media: DA
6 Western Mass Teens Held Mock 'Slave Auction,' Made Racist Comments On Social Media: DA Six Hampden County eighth-grade students have been charged in juvenile court after chat logs were discovered where they made threats against minority students, used racist slurs, shared racist memes and comments, and held a mock "slave auction" for two black classmates, authorities said.  Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni held a press conference on Thursday, March 14, explaining his decision to charge the Southwick Regional School students. He called their online chat "vile, cruel, and contemptible" in a news release.  Hatred and racism have no place in this community. …
‘You're Racist': Video Shows Lawyer Harassing NY Mosque Members Over Israel-Hamas War ‘You're Racist': Video Shows Lawyer Harassing NY Mosque Members Over Israel-Hamas War
‘You're Racist': Video Shows Lawyer Harassing NY Mosque Members Over Israel-Hamas War A New York lawyer is facing criminal charges after he was allegedly caught on video harassing members of a mosque over the Israel-Hamas war. The Long Island incident happened at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Melville Islamic Center, located on Old Neck Road. Suffolk County Police said Jordan Endler, age 46, entered the place of worship and made several statements regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Video shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows Endler walking in circles around a staircase while repeatedly shouting, “Free the Israeli hostages now.” A woman filming the i…
Pair Charged With Stealing Pride Flags From Home In Arlington, Police Say Pair Charged With Stealing Pride Flags From Home In Arlington, Police Say
Pair Charged With Stealing Pride Flags From Home In Arlington, Police Say Two people have been arrested following multiple reports of Pride flags that were stolen in Arlington County, police say. Matthew Henshaw, age 20, of Fort Myer is facing a host of charges following a months-long investigation into purported hate crimes that were reported online. According to an Arlington County Police Department spokesperson, between September last year and January, the agency received five online reports for larcenies in the 200 block of South Courthouse Road. Officials say that in each instance, a man approached the property during the early morning hours and stole a Pri…
Shock Spreads After Imam Shot Dead Outside Newark Mosque (UPDATE) Shock Spreads After Imam Shot Dead Outside Newark Mosque (UPDATE)
Shock Spreads After Imam Shot Dead Outside Newark Mosque (Update) An imam was pronounced dead after being fatally shot outside a Newark mosque on Wednesday, Jan. 3, authorities said. Hassan Sharif was found by officers responding to the Masjid Muhammad Newark mosque on South Orange Ave., at 6:16 a.m., Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, said.  Police brought Sharif to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:20 p.m., the Essex County Sheriff's Office said. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said the shooting does not appear to have been an act motivated by bias or domestic terrorism. “We know that in light of global eve…
Second Swastika Found At Middle School On Long Island: 'Please Speak With Your Children' Second Swastika Found At Middle School On Long Island: 'Please Speak With Your Children'
Second Swastika Found At Middle School On Long Island: 'Please Speak With Your Children' A Long Island school district is urging parents to partner alongside schools in teaching the gravity of bigotry after a second swastika symbol was found in the span of a week. On Monday, Nov. 27, the Riverhead Central School District (CSD) sent a letter out to the community regarding the discovery of a swastika written on a blackboard by a student at Riverhead Middle School. The release closely mirrors a similar letter written by interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich just days before, when a swastika was found drawn on a piece of art in the same school. Earlier Report: Swastika …
Swastika Found At Long Island School, Officials Say Swastika Found At Long Island School, Officials Say
Swastika Found At Long Island School, Officials Say A swastika was found at a Long Island school, prompting an investigation into the incident, according to authorities. The hateful symbol, which was found on a piece of artwork, has sparked an investigation into the incident, according to the district. In a release to parents and students in the Riverhead School District, interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich announced on Friday, Nov. 17 that a swastika had been discovered at Riverhead Middle School. Found by a group of students and a teacher, the symbol had been drawn on a piece of artwork hung in the school. Pedisich claimed the distr…
Longtime Mount Vernon Resident Announces Run To Become Westchester's First Black DA Longtime Mount Vernon Resident Announces Run To Become Westchester's First Black DA
Longtime Mount Vernon Resident Announces Run To Become Westchester's First Black DA A Westchester native with years of experience in civil rights cases has announced his candidacy to become the county's first Black district attorney.  Mount Vernon native and attorney William O. Wagstaff III announced his candidacy for the Westchester County District Attorney's office on Monday, Nov. 20.  Wagstaff's candidacy announcement comes nearly a month after the county's current District Attorney, Miriam Rocah, announced she would not be seeking re-election in 2024.  Earlier Report - Westchester DA Rocah Won't Seek Re-Election: 'I Do Not Fit Mold Of Career Polit…
$75 Million Plan Aims To Ease Surge Of Hate, Bias Crimes In NY: Hochul $75 Million Plan Aims To Ease Surge Of Hate, Bias Crimes In NY: Hochul
$75 Million Plan Aims To Ease Surge Of Hate, Bias Crimes In NY: Hochul As a response to the rise in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic crimes across New York State stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a multi-million dollar plan to keep New Yorkers safe. Earlier report: 21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell The announcement came on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Hochul, utilizing all available state resources, declared a multi-branched plan aimed at limiting the number of hate and bias crimes, which she says have risen since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. “Let me be clear: we cannot…
Man Points Gun At 'Peace For Palestine' Rally Attendees On Pennsylvania Capitol's Steps: Police Man Points Gun At 'Peace For Palestine' Rally Attendees On Pennsylvania Capitol's Steps: Police
Man Points Gun At 'Peace For Palestine' Rally Attendees On Pennsylvania Capitol's Steps: Police A "Peace for Palestine" rally at the Pennsylvania State Capitol was winding down when a man pulled up, hopped out of his car "yelling racial slurs" and pointed a gun at some of the attendees on Friday, Pennsylvania Capitol Police told Daily Voice.  The man, later identified as Richard Kevin Blandy, 56 of South Lebanon Township, fled from the scene just before 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 13, according to the PCP's statement.  The police chased after the man's vehicle on foot, but were not able to immediately capture him as he "fled the area committing several traffic violations," the PCP sai…
'Disgrace': Bar Patron Assaults Employee, Launches Tirade At Jersey City Gay Bar 'Disgrace': Bar Patron Assaults Employee, Launches Tirade At Jersey City Gay Bar
'Disgrace': Bar Patron Assaults Employee, Launches Tirade At Jersey City Gay Bar A man assaulted an employee and hurled anti-gay slurs at a Jersey City gay bar on Thursday, Sept. 28, authorities and the bar said. Pint, which has been a Jersey City institution since 1911, said the man asked an employee why they have a rainbow flag. When finding out he was in a gay bar, the man flew into a rage, said gays target children, that gay people and gay bars should be illegal and used a homophobic slur, the bar wrote on Instagram.  He sped away before police arrived, the bar said, but they were able to take a photo of him. View this post on Instagram …
Anti-Semitic Threats Made Against Central Jersey School Administrator On Instagram: Prosecutor Anti-Semitic Threats Made Against Central Jersey School Administrator On Instagram: Prosecutor
Anti-Semitic Threats Made Against Central Jersey School Administrator On Instagram: Prosecutor A teenager has been arrested for making violent, anti-semitic threats against a New Brunswick school administrator on Instagram, authorities said. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Director Anthony Caputo of the New Brunswick Police Department announced that a juvenile male has been taken into custody and charged with acts of juvenile delinquency for offenses which, if committed by an adult, would constitute false public alarm, terroristic threats, and bias intimidation. On Thursday, Sept. 7, the New Brunswick Police Department received a report detail…
Acts Of Terror: Officials Speaking Out After Signage 'Desecrated' In MD During Pride Month Acts Of Terror: Officials Speaking Out After Signage 'Desecrated' In MD During Pride Month
Acts Of Terror: Officials Speaking Out After Signage 'Desecrated' In MD During Pride Month Outrage is brewing in a Maryland community after there was a rash of hate crimes in the neighborhood of a prominent LGBTQ+ lawmaker. Some elected officials in Montgomery County are speaking out after there were reports of pride and other inclusivity imagery "desecrated" in what County Council President Evan Glass described as “acts of terror.” On Wednesday, the Montgomery County Police Department reportedly received reports of Pride flags, Ukrainian flags, and inclusive lawn signs in Silver Spring that were vandalized or destroyed. This hate happened in my community. We can’t let them…
Man Who Threatened Merriam-Webster HQ In Western Mass Over Definitions Gets Year In Prison Man Who Threatened Merriam-Webster HQ In Western Mass Over Definitions Gets Year In Prison
Man Who Threatened Merriam-Webster HQ In Western Mass Over Definitions Gets Year In Prison If you look up the word federal prison inmate in the dictionary, you'll find a photo of Jeremy David Hanson.  Jeremy David Hanson, 34, of Rossmoor, California, was sentenced to a year in prison after he admitted to sending threats to Springfield-based Merriam-Webster because he was upset over the dictionary's inclusion of gender-inclusive definitions, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  From Oct. 2 through Oct. 8, 2021, Hanson repeatedly sent threatening messages through the Contact Us page promising to hurt employees and disparaging members of the LGBT community.  …
Man Yells Racial Slur At Restaurant Employee At Bradley Airport, Police Say Man Yells Racial Slur At Restaurant Employee At Bradley Airport, Police Say
Man Yells Racial Slur At Restaurant Employee At Bradley Airport, Police Say A man faces numerous charges after allegedly yelling a racial slur at an employee of a restaurant at Bradley International Airport when they ran out of sandwich bread, police said.  The incident happened on Saturday, April 8 around 6:30 p.m., when state troopers responded to the D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches shop inside the airport terminal on a reported disturbance, according to state police.  Troopers then met with a Black employee of D’Angelo, who said that the eatery had run out of sandwich bread because of an unusually high number of customers during her shift.  When…
Lexington Man Who Hoarded Guns, Nazi, Klan Memorabilia, Admits To Harassing Black Neighbors: DA Lexington Man Who Hoarded Guns, Nazi, Klan Memorabilia, Admits To Harassing Black Neighbors: DA
Lexington Man Who Hoarded Guns, Nazi, Klan Memorabilia, Admits To Harassing Black Neighbors: DA A convicted felon who collected guns, Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, and Confederate Army memorabilia admitted more than 100 crimes, including terrorizing his black neighbors because of their race, authorities said. Police found more than 70 guns in his Lexington home despite his previous felony conviction that barred him from keeping weapons.  Robert Ivarson, age 55, last week pleaded guilty to: 10 counts of possession of an assault weapon 11 counts of possession of a large-capacity weapon 11 counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device 24 counts of possession of a firearm as an arme…
Maryland Woman, Neo-Nazi From Florida Plotted To 'Completely Destroy' Baltimore: DOJ Maryland Woman, Neo-Nazi From Florida Plotted To 'Completely Destroy' Baltimore: DOJ
Maryland Woman, Neo-Nazi From Florida Plotted To 'Completely Destroy' Baltimore: DOJ Federal officials say that a Catonsville woman and a Neo-Nazi man in Florida conspired to disrupt an energy facility in Maryland in furtherance of their violent extremist beliefs. Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 34, and Orlando resident Brandon Clint Russell, 27, are facing federal charges for coming up with an elaborate plan to “completely destroy the city,” in a move that threatened thousands in Maryland, according to the Department of Justice. “This alleged planned attack threatened lives and would have left thousands of Marylanders in the cold and dark,” Maryland US Attorney Erek L. Barron said…