DALLAS — More than 200 people showed up Wednesday night in front of Dallas City Hall for a vigil to honor children killed in the Gaza conflict.
Organizers planned the event around the tragic killing of a 6-year-old Muslim child from Chicago. Wadea Al-Fayoume was stabbed 26 times, according to an ABC News report. Police arrested Joseph Czuba, a Chicago-area landlord for the death. Officials are calling the incident a hate crime.
Dr. Omar Suleiman of Yaqeen Institute says this is the result of misinformation and propaganda coming out of the conflict in Gaza. He says it is dangerous and a reminder of the rhetoric used post-9/11.
"We are here. We are unapologetically Muslim. We are unapologetically Palestinian. And are unapologetically those people who are being slaughtered overseas," said Suleiman.
There has been a rise nationally in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since the conflict started.
"These divides that cause us to pick one side over another when children on all sides are being harmed not only creates harm to our nation but to our world," said Pastor Michael Waters.
More pro-Palestinian rallies calling for the end to occupation are scheduled for this week.