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By Bay City News.
A man accused of attacking a woman carrying an Israeli flag and setting her on fire during a Gaza protest in El Cerrito is being charged with felony counts with special hate crime allegations, Contra Costa prosecutors said Friday.
Christopher Khamis Victor Husary, 36, of Hayward, faces charges of second-degree robbery, grand larceny and arson in connection with a Jan. 6 clash between pro-Israel supporters and Palestinians over the war in Gaza.
Husary pushed a woman carrying an Israeli flag and set her on fire, and grabbed another Israeli flag that was being carried on the shoulders of a second woman, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said.
“While the First Amendment is fundamental to our democracy, it does not protect against threats, injury, intimidation or property damage,” District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement.
“Furthermore, when such actions arise from prejudices related to race, gender, religion, ancestry or national origin, they become hate crimes,” he said.
Husary was arrested at his home on Wednesday, El Cerrito police said. Although the suspect in the case was wearing a face covering, police said members of the public helped them identify Husary.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the CaliFornia State Library.
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