(SACRAMENTO, CA, 3/11/19) – The Sacramento Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) today condemned an attack on an African-American man in Redding, Calif., that police are calling a hate crime.
READ: Redding man is facing hate crime charge after hitting a black man with his car Sunday morning (Sac Bee)
The victim reported that on Sunday morning he was sitting in his parked vehicle when the suspect – later identified as Zackary Miller, 23 – drove by, hitting the side-view mirror of the victim’s car.
The victim confronted Miller, and Miller and others in a nearby blue Pontiac began calling the victim racial slurs, according to a Redding police report. Miller then backed his car into the victim, who was thrown to the ground and whose cellphone was broken. The nearby Pontiac then also backed into the victim, knocking him back down. Drivers of both vehicles fled the scene.
Officers were able to identify the suspect as Miller with the help of a photo taken by the victim. The suspect was tracked down at a house known for criminal activity. Law enforcement surrounded the house at 4:40 p.m. Sunday and arrested 14 individuals, including Miller.
Miller was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, a hate crime enhancement, possession of illegal drugs for sale, felony warrants and a probation hold, according to police.
In a statement, CAIR-SV’s Civil Rights Attorney Saad Sweilem said:
“CAIR-Sacramento Valley condemns this disturbing hateful attack in Redding. We welcome the hate crime charges against the suspect and encourage law enforcement to pursue the same charges against the second driver as well. We must come together to emphatically reject hatred and bigotry to ensure this surge of hate attacks against our communities comes to an end.”
There has been a 17.4 percent spike in California hate crimes from 2016 to 2017, according to a report by the attorney general. Hate crimes against black or African American individuals in the state saw a 20.3 percent increase over the same time period.
READ: Hate Crime in California
READ: Hate crimes rise in California for third straight year, state report says (L.A. Times)
CAIR California (CAIR-CA) found a marked rise in anti-Muslim bias incidents in California in 2017, as detailed in its Civil Rights Report. CAIR-CA recorded an 8 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2017 compared to 2016.
READ: 2018 CAIR-CA Civil Rights Report
Sweilem urged community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-SV’s Civil Rights Department at 916-441-6269 or by filing a report at http://bit.ly/cairsvreport.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR 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: CAIR-SV Communications Manager Kalin Kipling-Mojaddedi, 916-441-6269 or kkipling@cair.com
