Listen to this note:
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 felonies 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 supporters of Israel and Palestinians over the war in Gaza.
Husary shoved a woman carrying an Israeli flag and set her on fire, and grabbed another Israeli flag she was carrying 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 threats, injury, intimidation, or property damage,” District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement.
“Furthermore, when such actions arise from prejudice related to race, gender, religion, ancestry or national origin, they become hate crimes,” he noted.
Husary was arrested at his home Wednesday, El Cerrito police said. Although the suspect in the case was covering his face, police said 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.
You may be interested in: National Asian Resource Center, a new tool that generates security and trust
