{"id":37266,"date":"2023-11-26T20:09:07","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T20:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/news\/three-palestinian-students-shot-near-the-university-of-vermont\/"},"modified":"2023-11-26T20:09:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T20:09:08","slug":"three-palestinian-students-shot-near-the-university-of-vermont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/?p=37266","title":{"rendered":"Three Palestinian students shot near the University of Vermont"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Three Palestinian students were shot and wounded near the University of Vermont Saturday night, police said.<\/p>\n

Two of the three 20-year-old men are in stable condition, while the other is facing more serious injuries, according to a report from the Burlington Police Department in Vermont.<\/p>\n

The victims were on their way to a Thanksgiving dinner at one of their relative’s homes and two of them were wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, according to the report. The shooter fired at least four rounds from a pistol, striking all three students. Officers from the Burlington Police Department, the University of Vermont police department and other local forces immediately responded to the scene.<\/p>\n

All three attended a Quaker school together and now are college students at Brown University, Haverford College and Trinity College.<\/p>\n

The shooting comes as Islamophobia and antisemitism escalate against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, which is currently in a four-day military pause to ensure the safe passage of released hostages. Earlier in November, President Joe Biden announced a “first-ever” national program to counter Islamophobia.<\/p>\n

The families of the victims called on police forces to treat the shooting as a hate crime in a joint statement: “Our children are dedicated students who deserve to be able to focus on their studies and building their futures.\u00a0“<\/p>\n

“In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime. And I have already been in touch with federal investigatory and prosecutorial partners to prepare for that if it’s proven,” Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Hate crimes are considered federal offenses. A spokesperson for FBI Albany, which covers Vermont, said in a statement following news of the shooting that the bureau was investigating the incident to see if there was evidence of a “federal violation.”<\/p>\n

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, is offering a $10,000 reward for any reports or information that could help arrest and convict the shooter.<\/p>\n

Sen. Bernie Sanders issued a statement on the shooting in a social media post on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“It is shocking and deeply upsetting that three young Palestinians were shot here in Burlington, VT. Hate has no place here, or anywhere. I look forward to a full investigation. My thoughts are with them and their families,” the Vermont independent lawmaker said in a post<\/a> on X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n