“Three Palestinian university students shot in Vermont, hate crime suspected”
Three college students of Palestinian descent were shot in Burlington, VT, by a man getting out for a walk in the city over the weekend. The possible hate crime investigation arose from the increasing threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities since the Israel-Hamas war. The man, Jason J. Eaton, 48, shot the students at close range. He was ordered without bail, and the case was being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice alongside Vermont authorities. The students, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdulhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, were on their Thanksgiving break in Burlington when the shooting occurred. Two were hit in the torsos, and one was injured in the lower extremities. The Palestinian keffiyeh scarves the students were wearing at the time was a potential factor. Governor Phil Scott described the situation as a tragedy and called on Vermont residents to unite in this troubling time. President Biden said there is no place for hate or violence in America. The recent shooting in Burlington once again highlights the urgency to change the discourse and dehumanizing prejudices that Palestinians face.