Timeline
This work would not have been possible without the ongoing relationships with legislators, partners, and allies for years before this moment.
October 14, 2023: Six-year-old Wadee AlFayoumi was brutally stabbed 26 times by his landlord for being a Palestinian American child, a crime fueled by hate and divisive political rhetoric. His mother Hanan Shaheen was also stabbed 12 times, it is a miracle she survived her injuries and can stand with us today.
October 24, 2023: Muslim Civic Coalition shares Wadee Resolution draft to Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s legislative team.
November 17th, 2023: Muslim Civic Coalition begins work with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez’s office, Wadee Resolution draft is shared with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez’s legislative team
November 25, 2023: Three young Palestinian American college students were shot for wearing kaffiyehs—one of them, Hisham Awartani, paralyzed from the waist down. Despite the rising toll of hate crimes since October 2023, their names and stories went unacknowledged in Congress.
December 19, 2023: The Wadee Resolution is introduced in the House of Representatives sponsored by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
February 2024: The Muslim Civic Coalition sends the Wadee Resolution language to Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth
March 2024: The Muslim Civic Coalition partners with Senators Durbin and Duckworth to introduce the bill to the Senate floor, alongside a formal request to the Senate Judiciary Committee for a Congressional hearing. This hearing aimed to address the surge in hate crimes targeting Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities since October 2023, highlighting the urgent need to confront dehumanization and hate.
March 2024 - July 2024: The Muslim Civic Coalition continues to plan, partner, negotiate on the format, witness list, and framing of the hearing with Senator Durbin's office.
July 2024: With partnerships and allyship from the Sikh Community, there is a new framing to provide expert witness testimony, and this is agreed upon with Senator Durbin’s office.
September 12, 2024: A public announcement was made.
September 12-17, 2024: The Muslim Civic Coalition worked with partners, allies, and networks to mobilize and prepare for the hearing and share the work around the Wadee Resolution.
September 15, 2024: The Muslim Civic Coalition, alongside partner organizations, compiled and sent a brief to the Senate Judicial Committee members through Senator Dick Durbin’s office.
September 17, 2024: History was made.
The Muslim Civic Coalition announced to their network of partners, supporters, and allies additional information about how to attend, tune in live, and amplify the work.
The Congressional Hearing on Hate Crimes highlighting Wadee Alfayoumi’s and Hesham Awartani’s names and Palestinian identity were honored on the Congressional record.
It was the first time that Senator Durbin met Hanan, Wadee’s mother in person following her son’s murder. The Democrats stood with the Muslim and Palestinian communities, but some were missing in the room.
The Muslim Civic Coalition, along with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez’s office, and allies, held a press conference to continue to amplify the work
September 18, 2024: The Muslim Civic Coalition is sharing this community message to provide context for the hearing, acknowledge the hateful language used, and affirm our continued resolve to carry the work forward.
September 23, 2024: The Muslim Civic Coalition hosts a debrief with partners, allies, and leaders.
September 24, 2024: The Senate unanimously passes Wadee Resolution
