On November 25th, three Palestinian students were shot in Burlington, Vermont. Democrats and other leftists have paused their criticism of Israel's war on terror and suggested that so-called Islamophobia is a contributing factor to the non-fatal shootings.
But the suspect in the shooting, which has fallen out of the spotlight of liberal media in the weeks since, appears to be a mentally unstable man who has been defending the Palestinians and Hamas in recent months.
incident
20-year-old students Hisham Awartani, Kinan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad went for a walk while visiting friends in Burlington over Thanksgiving break. VTDigger
shown Two of the victims were wearing Palestinian headscarves at the time of the shooting.
Jason James Eaton, 48, stepped off his porch on North Prospect Street and confronted the trio around 6:30 p.m.
according to To the police. Eaton then allegedly opened fire without saying anything.
All three victims, two of whom were U.S. citizens, were injured but ultimately survived.
Eaton was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder and could face a hate crime enhancement. The next public hearing is scheduled for March 8th.
response
“In this moment of condemnation, I don't think anyone can look at this incident and not question whether this was a crime motivated by hate,” said Burlington Police Chief John Murad.
“While there is no evidence yet to support a hate crime enhancement, there is no question that this was a hateful act,” Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George said in a statement.
The victim's family announced
statement He called on law enforcement to treat the shooting as a “hate crime.”
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Hastily Issues Statement
suggest He said there was “reason to believe that this shooting occurred because the victim was Arab.”
“The rise in anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiment we are experiencing is unprecedented, and this is another example of hatred turning to violence,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC's national executive director.
President Joe Biden
Said “There is no place for violence or hatred in America,” he said in response to the shooting.
vice president kamala harris
I have written “We know that too many people live in fear of being targeted and attacked based on their beliefs and who they are,” the statement said. ” he said.
Democratic Senator Peter Welch (Vermont)
I felt stressed“We will not tolerate hate or Islamophobia in Vermont.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont)
Said“The shooting of three young Palestinians here in Burlington, Vermont is shocking and deeply upsetting. Hatred has no place here or anywhere.”
Vermont Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman later said at a rally organized by various anti-Israel groups that “we are very proud of the attempted murder of three young Palestinians wearing Palestinian keffiyeh, or headscarves.'' I don't think you can help watching it when you're in a situation like this.” We are seeing an increase in attacks across the United States. ”
report Vermont Public.
Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) has promoted a fear-mongering narrative in Washington, saying about For Tahseen, and for all Palestinian Americans, we must: Please make it clear that we stand against this kind of hatred and bigotry. ”
not that fast
Contrary to the initial suspicions of the ceasefire leftists, the suspected gunmen were actually fellow tourists.
Eaton's X account has been set to private, but Vermont's Independent Seven Days reported that
obtained A trove of suspect posts from followers on the platform who wished to remain anonymous.
Eaton, who was reportedly fired from his job at a financial services company weeks before the shooting, responded to Rep. Balint's call for a ceasefire by saying, “What if someone takes over your country? You don't fight them. Is that so?” he wrote.
“Brittan [sic] During the famine, ships carrying food sent from other countries were not allowed to enter Ireland. My people starved,” Eaton added.
Just weeks after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, Eaton said, “The idea that Hamas is 'evil' because it protects the nation from occupation is absurd. They have a duty to the nation. Pay the money,” he wrote.
Ann archive snapshot Mr. Eaton's 2022 X account shows him associated with posts for Senator Welch and the Libertarian Party.
of
Eaton's X Biography “Extremist citizens are wreaking havoc on the Democracy and Capitalism of the Oaths,” the account reads. The caption on the banner reads: “Libertarians want transferees to protect cannabis farms with unregistered machine guns.”
Seven Days highlighted how Eaton was named in 37 reports filed with Onondaga County law enforcement agencies between April 2007 and November 2021. However, Lt. Matthew Malinowski, a Syracuse police spokesman, said there did not appear to be “any major history or racist motivators.” ”
His mother, Mary Reed, Said The Daily Beast said, “Although Jason has gone through many hardships in his life, he is a very kind and loving person.”
Reed said her son had been suffering from depression and other mental health issues, but was “in a great mood” hours before the shooting.
A police report on a complaint from one of Eaton's ex-girlfriends similarly suggested that Eaton had a “history of mental illness,” Seven Days reported. Ms. Eaton's estranged partner confirmed her sense that Ms. Reid was not a racist or hateful person.
Dick DeGraff, a New York farmer,
Said Officials said the “progressive” Eaton, who they had known for 25 years, showed no signs of extremism, racism or Islamophobia.
H/T Town Hall
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