Arab American woman recounts Gaza 'hate attack' on NYC subway

Earlier in November, a young Arab American woman was sitting alone aboard the New York City subway on her way to a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Byrant Park, when she was violently attacked by a fellow passenger.

Based on the circumstances of the incident, she says it was clear that she was singled out for her identity given that she was wearing a keffiyeh on her shoulders and holding a Palestinian flag. 

"He targeted me for how I look and for my opinions," the young woman told The New Arab. She asked not to be named for fear that her attacker, or others like him, could find her.

"I always felt safe with crazy people on the street, especially in New York, the most diverse city. Now, I'm always aware that people will target me for being Muslim and for wearing the keffiyeh," she said. 

"I was on my way to a protest, but I didn't make it, because I didn't want to go to a protest crying."

Her journey on the train was ordinary at first, but as the train continued through the tunnel, she could hear a woman say to her companion after looking at her: "terrorist".

The man, later identified as a trader with a financial firm then allegedly grabbed the young woman's flag and broke the poll, hitting her twice with the wood. 

The young woman was able to record the incident on video, eventually leading to the man's arrest on Monday. In a separate incident in New York City, a former State Department official, Stuart Seldowitz, was filmed repeatedly harassing a halal street food vendor, allegedly threatening him with torture and saying that not enough Palestinian children had died in the current conflict.

I always felt safe with crazy people on the street, especially in New York, the most diverse city. Now, I'm always aware that people will target me for being Muslim and for wearing the keffiyeh

It comes amid a spike in reported incidents of bias against Arabs and Muslims across the US, which have flared up (but which has long existed) following Hamas's 7 October surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200.

Israel responded by killing more than 13,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Jews in the US have also seen increased levels of violence related to the conflict.

According to a report issued by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) published on 4 November, one month into the conflict, there have been 1,283 complaints of bias incidents, a 216 percent increase when compared with similar time periods in previous years.

It is believed that most such hate crimes go unreported, according to a study by the University of California Berkeley's Othering & Belonging Institute.

In the 4 weeks from Oct. 7 to Nov. 4, our national headquarters and chapters received a total of 1,283 requests for help and reports of bias, which is a 216% increase over the previous year. pic.twitter.com/EPNNTZIv6d

— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) November 13, 2023

"What's important to remember at the time, with the surge of these incidents, is that they're not occurring in isolation. It's connected with the violence in Gaza, and we've seen leaders amplify Islamophobic hate and rhetoric," Farah Afify, research and advocacy coordinator with CAIR, whom the family of the woman contacted following the incident.

Such rhetoric, she said, includes misinterpreting Muslims' calls for human rights as being violent. 

"The propaganda that Muslims by nature are violent or have hatred toward other religious minorities are stereotypes that underly the discourse," Afify said. "These kinds of stereotypes embolden individuals to act against Muslims in person."

It isn't always easy to get the authorities to take cases, such as the NYC subway one, seriously, possibly an important factor in the lack of reporting of such cases. When she the woman first reported the case, she didn't feel like the police took the incident seriously.

"I'm so happy I took the video. I only thought about it after he took my flag and hit me," she said, still wondering why no one on the train intervened. "If someone had stepped up, I probably never would have recorded. What if I didn't have this video? Nothing would have been done."

She was, however, grateful for the public's help in identifying the suspect, a large man whose alleged target was much smaller. Eventually, she said a police detective proved to be helpful, which she believed was encouraged by public pressure.

The incident has left the young woman both shaken and emboldened, as her eyes have been opened to the dangers of being visibly Muslim or pro-Palestinian, while she says she remains undeterred in expressing her identity and beliefs.

"People are saying I shouldn't wear my keffiyeh. I know it's risky. But people are dying. It's the least I can do," she said. "My keffiyeh can bring awareness."