A Texas woman has been accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Palestinian-American Muslim girl, with police stating the incident was fueled by bias and racially motivated statements. The Council on American Islamic Relations has offered support to the victims, bringing attention to the incident that occurred in May at a swimming pool in Euless, Texas.
The suspect, identified as Elizabeth Wolf, had an altercation with the girl’s mother and asked about their origin before attempting to drown the child and grabbing her 6-year-old brother. Luckily, the mother was able to intervene and save her children. The suspect was arrested and charged with attempted capital murder.
This incident is reflective of the rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian bias, and antisemitism in the US, heightened by recent conflicts in the Middle East. President Joe Biden condemned the incident, showing concern over the increasing hate crimes against Palestinian-Americans in the country.
Similar incidents targeting individuals of Palestinian descent have been reported across the US, emphasizing the urgent need to address and combat such hateful acts in society.