Three college students of Palestinian descent were shot and wounded on Saturday evening in Burlington. The students were speaking a mixture of English and Arabic, and two of the victims wore keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves, at the time of the attack.
The following statement can be attributed to the ACLU of Vermont:
“We are shocked and outraged by the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington last weekend on their way to a family dinner.
“We all deserve to feel safe in the expression of our identities. This includes the right to wear cultural and religious garments—and to speak our language of origin, or any language we please—without the fear of experiencing hate or harm.
“The ACLU of Vermont condemns racism and Islamophobia in all forms. Vermont can and must strive to be a place where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, no matter their race, national origin, or cultural identity. This includes during times of heightened conflict overseas and divisive political rhetoric at home.
“Our hearts and minds are with the victims of this horrific shooting and their families, and with all people opposing violence and fighting back against discrimination and injustice.”
