Assault against rabbi in Maryland probed as hate crime, police says
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Police in Maryland said on Tuesday that an assault against a rabbi who was attacked with a wooden stake was being probed as a hate crime and a suspect was arrested.
The incident took place in Silver Spring in Maryland.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Rights advocates have noted rising threats against American Muslims, Arabs and Jews since the eruption of Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon following an Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.
Some recent incidents that have raised alarm over antisemitism include threats of violence against Jews at Cornell University that led to a conviction and sentencing, an unsuccessful plot to attack a New York City Jewish center and a physical assault against a Jewish man in Michigan.
KEY QUOTE
“For unknown reasons, the male suspect, identified as 47-year-old Junior Michael Reece, swung a wooden stake at the victim, striking him,” Montgomery County Police Department said in a statement. “This incident is being investigated as a hate crime.”
The suspect was charged with felony assault and related crimes, police said, adding that the victim, who was not identified, suffered minor injuries.
CONTEXT
Other recent violent U.S. incidents with Muslim and Arab victims include the attempted drowning of a 3-year-old Muslim girl in Texas, the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois, the stabbing of a Muslim man in Texas, the beating of a Muslim man in New York and a violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters in California.
