The resolution honors 6-year-old Wadee AlFayoumi, a Palestinian American Muslim boy whose murder—convicted as a hate crime—exposed the lethal impact of dehumanizing rhetoric.

September 21, 2025 will now be recognized as Wadee Day in Illinois, aligning with the International Day of Peace for Children.

This victory came on the final day of Arab American Heritage Month, on the eve of Asian American Heritage Month, as advocates gathered for Asian American Action Day to demand sanctuary, safety, and belonging. We must keep speaking out—our stories, our names, our heritage belong in every chamber of power.