The authorities in the Downers Grove suburb of Illinois arrested Alexandra Zoostakievich (64 years old) after her involvement in an assault on a Palestinian man named Waseem Zahran and his pregnant wife inside a Panera Bread restaurant. The defendant was charged with a hate crime and disorderly conduct for targeting the victims based on their national origin.

Incident details:

• Zahran was wearing a shirt that said "Palestine," which angered Zoostakievich, who confronted him with racist remarks before the confrontation became physical.

• The defendant struck Zahran and tried to knock the phone from his wife, who was filming the incident, and she attempted to throw hot coffee on her, continuing to assault despite knowing she was pregnant.

Legal proceedings:

• Zoostakievich appeared in court, where a DuPage County judge ordered her to refrain from contacting the victims or approaching the restaurant.

• She was charged with a hate crime due to the perceived national origin and disorderly conduct. She is scheduled to return to court on December 16.

Reactions:

• The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): Strongly condemned the incident, noting the rising hate against Palestinians even within the United States.

• Victim's statement: Zahran confirmed he had previously been harassed due to his Palestinian identity, but he noted that this was the first time he had experienced a physical assault.

Comment from the prosecutor:

Prosecutor Robert Berlin stated that "the behavior that occurred and the bias it reflects has no place in a civilized society," emphasizing the need to hold those involved in such crimes accountable.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of combating hate crimes that target individuals based on their origin or identity.