LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF CHICAGOLAND FAITH COMMUNITIES WILL GATHER TO HONOR WADEE ALFAYOUMI AND SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR HR942
CHICAGO – On May 19 at 4:00 pm, leaders and people of all faiths from across Chicagoland will gather at the Chicago Temple (First United Methodist Church, 77 W Washington St., Chicago) to remember Wadee Alfayoumi, the six year old murdered in October 2023 by a man incited by anti-Palestinian propaganda. They will also express support for a House resolution that honors him and his Palestinian heritage.
Since October 2023, hate crime targeting Muslims, Palestinians, and Jews has spiked in the United States. However, while multiple resolutions were passed by the House to denounce antisemitism, no similar resolution to oppose anti-Palestinian prejudice followed. Currently, a resolution honoring Wadee’s life and heritage (HR942), proposed by Rep. Delia Ramirez and others, is being considered by the judiciary committee.
“It is vital that we show that opposition to anti-Muslims and anti-Palestinian crime as a community of all faiths,” said Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, co-associate regional minister of American Baptist Churches Metro Chicago and one of the event organizers. “The tragedy of losing Wadee, a child whose future was stolen by hate fueled by propaganda, must never happen again. We owe this to Wadee, and to all children.”
Other organizers of the event previously came together in November 2023, at a widely covered press conference at the Muslim Community Center Chicago, where they called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and release of hostages.
The May 19 event is co-sponsored by the Muslim Community Center, the Muslim Civic Coalition, and the Lake Street Church of Evanston. It is anticipated to draw hundreds.
