
A stabbing incident in Austin, Texas has been declared a hate crime by the local police department. The incident occurred on February 4, 2024, and involved a 36-year-old suspect who has since been identified as Burt James Baker. Baker was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the victim, 23-year-old Zachariah, is a Palestinian-American. He and three of his Muslim American friends were leaving a ceasefire rally in Austin when the incident took place. The suspect, riding a bicycle, allegedly tore a flag displaying the Palestinian Kufa and the words 'Free Palestine' off the back of their car.