Reps Ramirez, Underwood, Jacobs, Watson Coleman and 12 Additional Cosponsors reintroduce Bicameral Resolution Honoring Wadee Alfayoumi with Senators Durbin, Duckworth

Back in December, Representatives Ramirez, Underwood, Jacobs, and Watson Coleman introduced the first version of the resolution (H.Res.942)

Washington, DC — Today, on International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), joined by Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced a resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian boy, murdered as a victim of a hate crime for his Palestinian Muslim identity, in the State of Illinois on October 14. The bicameral resolution affirms that no one, especially children, should be a target of hate because of their ethnicity or religion and strongly condemns hate crimes, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Palestinian discrimination.

The Representatives were joined by an additional 12 original cosponsors, including members of the Illinois delegation: Representatives Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Bill Foster (IL-11), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Cori Bush (MO-01), Gabe Amo (RI-01), and Andre Carson (IN-07). In the Senate, it was introduced and cosigned by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

“Months after the cruel murder of Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American child full of dreams, his death and his family's pain weigh heavily on my heart. Words matter and the rise of hate crimes, anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and hateful rhetoric endangers us all,” said Ramirez. “Back in December, joined by Representatives Lauren Underwood, Sara Jacobs, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, I decided to take a stand against hate and introduce the first version of the Wadee Resolution. As we commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, thebicameral reintroduction of the resolution is a testament to a growing coalition for peace and life. I thank Senators Durbin and Duckworth, Wadee's family, and human rights advocates for their leadership in upholding our sacred shared humanity.”

“Wadee Alfayoumi was a beautiful boy who brought so much joy and light to our community in Plainfield. He deserved to live a full and happy life. Instead, he was killed in a brutal attack driven by bigotry and bias,” Underwood said. “Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate have no place in Illinois, or anywhere in our country, and I’m honored to have worked with Wadee’s family, leaders in our community, and my colleagues in Congress on this resolution that honors his life and memory.”

“Targeting someone based on their ethnicity or religion is un-American, and targeting an innocent child based on those characteristics is pure hatred,” said Durbin. “Our nation mourns with the family of Wadee Alfayoumi, a mere child who was taken too soon.  By introducing this resolution, we are honoring and remembering his life and condemning all forms of hate.  We must keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate everywhere.”

“Wadee Alfayoumi was a happy, sweet, spirited six-year-old, who deserved every opportunity in life. I am distraught and heartbroken for his family, who witnessed his murder and now have to live life without him – and I am alarmed by the rise of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian racism and violence that has skyrocketed since October 7,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs. “No one should be targeted and killed because of their identity, and every child should have the chance to grow up free from violence and hate. I’m honored to co-lead this resolution to honor Wadee’s life, to denounce hatred of all kinds, and to push for peace and safety for everyone in the United States, Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.”

"It is a shared wish of every parent for their children to live in peace and security. The brutal murder of Wadee Alfayoumi shook the world. The increase in dehumanizing language we’ve seen in recent years and especially in the last few months puts all of our children at risk. This resolution comes at a critical time when we must reverse this trend and create a world in which all of our children - be they American, Palestinian, or Israeli - live and thrive with a sense of peace, dignity, and mutual respect,” said Rep. Watson Coleman.

“My heart breaks for the family of Wadee Alfayoumi, the precious, innocent 6-year-old who lost his life in an unimaginably cruel way, just because of his Palestinian Muslim identity,” Duckworth said. “This barbaric, cold-blooded murder was a chilling act of hate against the Palestinian community in Illinois, and we must do everything in our power to denounce and stop more hatred and violence. I’m proud to introduce this resolution with Senator Durbin and Representatives Ramirez and Underwood today honoring Wadee’s life and legacy. May his memory live on and serve as a reminder that we must be united in our shared goal of ending—rather than perpetuating—the needless suffering of innocent human beings.”

This legislation also has the support of local and national organizations, including the  Muslim Civic Coalition, Defending Rights & Dissent, Emgage Action, Muslimahs in Policy, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USPCR), National Association of Muslim Lawyers, CAIR National, Muslim Bar Association, Chicago Muslim Medical Alliance, Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, North Carolina Muslim Bar Association, Dallas Ft. Worth Texas Bar Association, American Muslim Health Professionals, Muslim Legal Fund of America, ICNA Council of Social Justice, Utah Muslim Civic Action, The Human Dignity Project, and the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance.

The Resolution resolved that:

• the United States lost the beautiful light of Wadee Alfayoumi because of hate;
• it is the duty of elected officials and media to tell the truth without dehumanizing rhetoric when informing the public of factual information;
• freedom of speech and peaceful protest are constitutionally protected and a fundamental corner- stone of democracy; and
• the United States has zero tolerance for hate crimes, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab discrimination.

Full text of the resolution is available HERE.