Resolution Condemns Anti-Palestinian Hatred, Mourns Victims of Hate Crimes After Burlington Shooting

This resolution is a formal statement from the legislature condemning the November 25, 2023, shooting in Burlington, Vermont, where three college students—Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad—were injured. The bill text explicitly states the students were targeted because they were wearing a traditional Palestinian scarf and speaking Arabic.

When Rhetoric Turns to Real-World Violence

The core of this resolution is the acknowledgment that Palestinian communities, both here and abroad, are facing increased threats, violence, and prejudice linked to the war in Gaza. It affirms a basic principle that no one in the U.S. should face intimidation or violence because of their religion, ethnicity, or expression of identity. For everyday people, this is a formal recognition that the current global conflict is spilling over into hate crimes and threats against neighbors, coworkers, and classmates.

The resolution specifically mourns victims of anti-Palestinian violence since the start of the conflict, naming the murder of 6-year-old Wadea al-Fayoume in Illinois and the attack on the students in Vermont. By naming these specific incidents, the resolution moves beyond general statements to acknowledge the very real, often tragic, consequences of bias and hatred.

Drawing a Line on Hateful Speech

This bill doesn’t just condemn violence; it takes aim at specific forms of hateful language. It decries the bias and threats experienced by many Palestinian Americans and condemns rhetoric that does a few key things: advocates for the removal of Palestinians from Israel or Palestinian territories, suggests Palestinians should move to other countries, or denies the existence, culture, or right to a state of the Palestinian people.

While this is a non-binding resolution and changes no laws, it sets a clear moral and political stance against these specific extremist ideas. For those in the digital workspace or on college campuses, this formal condemnation provides institutional weight to push back against rhetoric that seeks to erase or displace an entire population. Finally, the resolution commends community leaders who are actively working toward peace and mutual respect, signaling support for de-escalation and dialogue over division.