Just as disturbing as the attack, was that no one stopped the attacker or tried to intervene, and we need to understand the critical lesson from this event
Your posts are WONDERFUL! I always learn so much from following them and thank you for your wise, relevant insights. We need your clarity and important posts...especially now. I would identify myself as a white, American, Christian woman and the message I take away from this is to be forever watchful of instances when anyone of a different ethnicity, religion, class or minority is being harassed or bullied for their differences, to never passively stand by without voicing my support or aid if need be of the individual(s) being mistreated or attacked. To do otherwise is being complicit and as guilty as the abuser.
At least for the time being, local rape crisis centers may be able to provide Engaged Bystander training for interested community members. We have to find ways we can respond, acknowledging safety concerns for all, and this training provides options.
We have to learn how to invene in bullying situations. We can no longer stand by because this is only going to get worse. Violence toward our fellow humans is unacceptable and should have been confronted right then. A well placed, "What do you think you're doing?" from a couple of bystanders would have gone a long way. People learn to look aschofrom the bullying when it happens at school. We've got to unlearn our complicity.
A lot of what I have read in the past few days has been fairly terrifying when considering the almost certain devastating effects of the next administration on all of us (not to mention the rest of the world). I nearly burst into tears reading this at the thought of how people have been encouraged if not downright empowered to be hateful toward other individuals for no good reason. He didn't *do* anything, right? She freaked out over what he was wearing?? I'd like to think I would have stood up to help protect the couple, but...? I know that this will have me paying more attention to what's going on around me from here on out.
For what it's worth, which may not be much, people these days may be more afraid to step up because it's the jackasses like this who are usually the ones carrying guns.
The US Holocaust Museum had an exhibit called “Some Were Neighbors…” which is now a traveling exhibition. Currently touring in Poland and Germany. It emphasizes how bystanders who witnessed the ongoing tragedy of victims being removed from their homes etc helped the perpetrators. We can’t let this happen again. We must speak up.!
I would offer that SOME of the non response is more likely caused by the psychology of the Bystander Effect and Diffusion of Responsibility i.e uncertainty as to what is occurring (do they know each other, is this woman senile, are they fighting, if the an embarrassing dispute between people that know each other and I should look away to save them embarrassment) and the threat level( an unarmed 67 yr old woman, while deserving of ALLL the hate crime charges is less of a physical threat that other situations and looks like her husband is capable and already handling it or someone that works here should. I agree we all need to be prepared to intervene and educated on HOW to intervene with an expected increase in hate crimes of all kinds but especially those against our muslim and LGBTQ friends.
To my mind, it appears that an assault charge would also be appropriate. If it is possible, please provide the names of the presiding Judge and the DA (and their addresses) to whom we could write to encourage them to pursue the charges diligently so that the attacker is punished to the fullest extent of the law.. There must be no exception made because the perpetrator was a "little old lady". We must speak out to ensure that this heinous behavior is revealed for what it is, a horrible racist hate crime.
Thank you for sharing this story. We MUST stand against discrimination and racism even when doing so may be dangerous to ourselves. If we don’t our kids will learn to hate.
I watched the video and, as a white woman, thought about what I would do (and will do) if I had been there. If I am totally honest, I am not sure if I would have stepped in. You're article helped me think deeply about my own response when I see raciscm and I replayed the scene in my mind as if I had responded. Thank you for helping us think critically about our role in anti-raciscm.
Let me begin by saying that this type of behavior is never acceptable. Waseem showed great restraint during this whole fiasco. I am not sure I could have been so reserved. All those people that stood by and watched really need to do some real soul searching about what miserable beings they are and how karma will catch up to them. I am tired of seeing this type of behavior, but fear this is only the beginning especially since I have seen this video and videos of nazi's marching through the streets of Ohio unfettered nor detered. I am an older white woman and do not know how it feels to be a person of color or of a faith that is visually identifiable. However, my husband and family members are Palestinian and my Grandson is black and my sons are American Indian. I am surrounded, and happily so, by the wonderful varied colors of our human world. No one is above the other. God help anyone that would attempt to attack any one of them.
Thank you for this post and for making the point of not racist versus anti-racist. The disgusting attack speaks for itself and the complete passivity of all of the other customers and staff is even worse.
Your posts are WONDERFUL! I always learn so much from following them and thank you for your wise, relevant insights. We need your clarity and important posts...especially now. I would identify myself as a white, American, Christian woman and the message I take away from this is to be forever watchful of instances when anyone of a different ethnicity, religion, class or minority is being harassed or bullied for their differences, to never passively stand by without voicing my support or aid if need be of the individual(s) being mistreated or attacked. To do otherwise is being complicit and as guilty as the abuser.
At least for the time being, local rape crisis centers may be able to provide Engaged Bystander training for interested community members. We have to find ways we can respond, acknowledging safety concerns for all, and this training provides options.
We have to learn how to invene in bullying situations. We can no longer stand by because this is only going to get worse. Violence toward our fellow humans is unacceptable and should have been confronted right then. A well placed, "What do you think you're doing?" from a couple of bystanders would have gone a long way. People learn to look aschofrom the bullying when it happens at school. We've got to unlearn our complicity.
A lot of what I have read in the past few days has been fairly terrifying when considering the almost certain devastating effects of the next administration on all of us (not to mention the rest of the world). I nearly burst into tears reading this at the thought of how people have been encouraged if not downright empowered to be hateful toward other individuals for no good reason. He didn't *do* anything, right? She freaked out over what he was wearing?? I'd like to think I would have stood up to help protect the couple, but...? I know that this will have me paying more attention to what's going on around me from here on out.
For what it's worth, which may not be much, people these days may be more afraid to step up because it's the jackasses like this who are usually the ones carrying guns.
GOOD 👍🏼
The US Holocaust Museum had an exhibit called “Some Were Neighbors…” which is now a traveling exhibition. Currently touring in Poland and Germany. It emphasizes how bystanders who witnessed the ongoing tragedy of victims being removed from their homes etc helped the perpetrators. We can’t let this happen again. We must speak up.!
I would offer that SOME of the non response is more likely caused by the psychology of the Bystander Effect and Diffusion of Responsibility i.e uncertainty as to what is occurring (do they know each other, is this woman senile, are they fighting, if the an embarrassing dispute between people that know each other and I should look away to save them embarrassment) and the threat level( an unarmed 67 yr old woman, while deserving of ALLL the hate crime charges is less of a physical threat that other situations and looks like her husband is capable and already handling it or someone that works here should. I agree we all need to be prepared to intervene and educated on HOW to intervene with an expected increase in hate crimes of all kinds but especially those against our muslim and LGBTQ friends.
To my mind, it appears that an assault charge would also be appropriate. If it is possible, please provide the names of the presiding Judge and the DA (and their addresses) to whom we could write to encourage them to pursue the charges diligently so that the attacker is punished to the fullest extent of the law.. There must be no exception made because the perpetrator was a "little old lady". We must speak out to ensure that this heinous behavior is revealed for what it is, a horrible racist hate crime.
Googling State's Attorney now to thank him. And Panerra to say do better!
Thank you for sharing this story. We MUST stand against discrimination and racism even when doing so may be dangerous to ourselves. If we don’t our kids will learn to hate.
I watched the video and, as a white woman, thought about what I would do (and will do) if I had been there. If I am totally honest, I am not sure if I would have stepped in. You're article helped me think deeply about my own response when I see raciscm and I replayed the scene in my mind as if I had responded. Thank you for helping us think critically about our role in anti-raciscm.
So glad Alexandra was charged. Now, let’s see her do some time.
Let me begin by saying that this type of behavior is never acceptable. Waseem showed great restraint during this whole fiasco. I am not sure I could have been so reserved. All those people that stood by and watched really need to do some real soul searching about what miserable beings they are and how karma will catch up to them. I am tired of seeing this type of behavior, but fear this is only the beginning especially since I have seen this video and videos of nazi's marching through the streets of Ohio unfettered nor detered. I am an older white woman and do not know how it feels to be a person of color or of a faith that is visually identifiable. However, my husband and family members are Palestinian and my Grandson is black and my sons are American Indian. I am surrounded, and happily so, by the wonderful varied colors of our human world. No one is above the other. God help anyone that would attempt to attack any one of them.
What not assault too?
I commit to being actively anti- racist, body on the line if necessary. (Old white woman)
Me too.
Me too.
Thank you for this post and for making the point of not racist versus anti-racist. The disgusting attack speaks for itself and the complete passivity of all of the other customers and staff is even worse.