CAIR-NY Welcomes Hate Crime Charges for Alleged Racist Assault on UPS Driver
(NEW YORK, NY, 8/26/24) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today welcomed hate crime charges for an allegedly bias-motivated assault on a UPS driver in the village of Montebello, New York.
Ramapo, New York, police say Yitzchok Zucker, 31, and Moshe Pepper, 31, allegedly assaulted the driver Saturday afternoon in Montebello. According to reports, the alleged assailants physically attacked the driver while using racial slurs, The also reportedly attempted to steal the keys to his delivery truck.
Zucker has been charged with Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree as a hate crime and Attempted Assault 2nd Degree as a hate crime. Pepper has been charged with Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree as a hate crime, Attempted Assault 2nd Degree as a hate crime, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, and Harassment 2nd Degree. The suspects were released without bail.
Police said the driver was not white but would not identify his race.
“We welcome the hate crime charges in this case and thank law enforcement authorities for their actions in apprehending the suspects,” said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher. “We call on local, state and national leaders to speak out against the growing bigotry nationwide targeting minority communities. As we have seen all too often, bigoted views can turn into violent actions.”
She said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com;
Saira Amar, MPA, CAIR-NY Communications Coordinator, samar@cair.com