An Arab Muslim student at Stanford University was targeted by an allegedly pro-Israel student on Friday, Nov. 3, in what is being investigated as a potential hate crime. Shortly before 2 p.m., the Arab student was crossing the street near the student residences at Campus Drive and Ayrshire Farm Lane when he was hit by a car and the driver sped off while yelling, "F--- you and your people."
Officials reported that the student sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently still hospitalized.
According to a statement from the victim after the incident, the driver made eye contact with him before accelerating.
"As soon as he hit me, as my body was turning around, the driver yelled, 'f--- you and your people,'" the student said.
Upon locking eyes, the victim identified the individual as someone who has taken to filming pro-Palestine activists on campus, a newly widespread tactic employed to intimidate and dox students.
The suspect is described as a white male in his mid-20s, with short dirty-blond hair, round framed eyeglasses and a short beard.
The car is described as a black Toyota 4Runner, model year 2015 or newer, with an exposed tire mounted to the rear center and a Toyota logo in the center of the wheel. The white California license plate had the letters M and J, with M possibly being the first letter and J in the middle, the student told police.
University police were alerted of the hit-and-run shortly after, but did not issue a campus-wide alert informing the student body of the violent crime until 10:30 p.m.
A statement from Stanford Students for Justice in Palestine demanded that the university take immediate action.
"The university must deploy its resources to determine who the perpetrator was, support the survivor of this attack (and others) with specialized resources, care, and any and all resources they need at their request, and release a statement condemning the violent Islamophobic and anti-Arab hate crimes in particular and with that language that have occurred on campus," the students wrote.
"At present, Stanford University is complicit in the white supremacist violence Arab and Muslim students have faced on campus. To the university administration, we say unequivocally: shame on you. Your silence is enabling violent Islamophobic and anti-Arab hate crimes on our campus and the genocide of the Palestinian people."
Stanford President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez said in a statement issued Friday that they were "profoundly disturbed" to hear of the incident.
"Violence on our campus is unacceptable," they said in the statement. "Hate-based violence is morally reprehensible, and we condemn it in the strongest terms. We want to express our deep concern for the student who was injured, and for all affected by this incident."
Stanford Hillel also issued a statement the day after the hit-and-run saying they were "deeply concerned" and that the responsible party should be held accountable for their actions.
"It is imperative that the university ensure that all minority populations are protected, and that there is zero tolerance for hateful speech, actions and violence," the statement reads.
The hit-and-run comes amid mounting criticism of the university's refusal to address an ongoing sit-in protest by student activists who demand the school denounce Israel's invasion of Gaza, and provide additional support to Palestinian students.
The students have been camping out in Stanford's White Plaza since Oct. 20 and have no plans of stopping. Among the demands are for the university to offer counseling and academic accommodations for students impacted by the genocide in Palestine, along with access to free legal aid for those experiencing harassment.
According to the Department of Public Safety, "Stanford is continuing to work to provide a safe and secure campus environment in the context of heightened tensions related to the events in Israel and Gaza. This includes additional security that has been deployed at key locations on campus."
The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it strongly condemned the targeting of the student.
"This shocking incident comes as a stark reminder of the rising climate of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate that has been escalating since Oct. 7," CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said in a statement Saturday.
Oct. 7 was the date of an attack by Hamas fighters that killed more than 1,400 Israelis, touching off Israeli retaliation that has killed and injured thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Billoo said Arab and Muslim students have sought the university's assistance in the last several weeks and remain concerned about the "inadequate response that has left them vulnerable."
The California Highway Patrol, which has jurisdiction over injury collisions on the Stanford campus, is currently investigating the hit-and-run as a potential hate crime.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact CHP at 650-779-2700 or Stanford public safety at 650-329-2413.
Comments
Registered user
Menlo Park
on Nov 6, 2023 at 9:08 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 9:08 am
The above situation is unfortunate, but I would be very cautious about taking any information regarding motivations and ethnicities at face value.
In addition to the hot war currently taking place in Gaza and Israel, there is also a worldwide propaganda also taking place. Caveat emptor.
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:13 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:13 am
[Post removed pending verification of factual assertions.]
Registered user
Stanford
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:30 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:30 am
This is a very disturbing event and I hope that the police will get to the bottom of it and disclose all the details. In fact, the single thing, which is common right now for Arabic/Muslim and Israelis/Jews on campus is the fear for their safety and the criticism that Stanford doesn't take a strong stand against spreading hate.
Unfortunately, also this event is being used to spread more hate across campus. The event was immediately associated with Israel/Jews and immediately associated with racists and white supremacists. Some people on campus are trying to use tactics, used by the worst dictatorships (i.e. Nazis, Hamas) to create false associations and take advantage of shallow buzzwords to plant more seed of hatred.
Registered user
Stanford
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:34 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:34 am
I do not know who is telling the truth, but with all the information that the student provided, I would think that the police would be able to find the "allegedly by pro-Israel student" who hit him. According to the victim, he knew the individual "as someone who has taken to filming pro-Palestine activists on campus, a newly widespread tactic employed to intimidate and dox students." Should be easy to find this person therefore. And the description and car license plate ....
Registered user
Ventura
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:36 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:36 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Green Acres
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:58 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:58 am
[Post removed due to unsubstantiated assertions of fact.]
Registered user
Stanford
on Nov 6, 2023 at 11:30 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 11:30 am
I think you should revise your title "Arab Muslim student at Stanford injured in hit-and-run, allegedly by pro-Israel student" ... pending verification of factual assertions.
[Portion removed.]
Registered user
Stanford
on Nov 6, 2023 at 11:35 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 11:35 am
No, really, do some investigative reporting. I want to know the truth!
Registered user
Ventura
on Nov 6, 2023 at 11:35 am
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 11:35 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 6, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Who alleged that the perpetrator was a student? Your headline says this, but I can't find the allegation in the article.
Registered user
Crescent Park
on Nov 6, 2023 at 6:37 pm
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 6:37 pm
A lot of victim doubting being expressed in these comments. Unfortunately this is part of the Arab/Muslim experience in America, which is one of the reasons why the Stanford students are sitting in. [Portion removed.]
Registered user
Ventura
on Nov 6, 2023 at 6:43 pm
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 6:43 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Green Acres
on Nov 6, 2023 at 7:57 pm
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 7:57 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Stanford
on Nov 6, 2023 at 8:22 pm
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 8:22 pm
I do hope that the police investigation will shed more light. Regardless, this is a very sad event. [Portion removed.]
Registered user
Downtown North
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:33 pm
Registered user
on Nov 6, 2023 at 10:33 pm
The injured student is in a Masters program according to the many print and TV stories. As of last night, he was still hospitalized.
NPR reports about 10000 Palestinians have been killed along with 1400 Israelis - nearly all civilians. Good for everyone who is non-violently protesting this slaughter, demanding a just peace.
.
Registered user
Ventura
on Nov 7, 2023 at 8:14 am
Registered user
on Nov 7, 2023 at 8:14 am
Victim doubting just like with Kavanaugh
Registered user
Green Acres
on Nov 7, 2023 at 8:31 am
Registered user
on Nov 7, 2023 at 8:31 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Atherton
on Nov 7, 2023 at 11:10 am
Registered user
on Nov 7, 2023 at 11:10 am
I too support the protesters sitting in to end the siege in Gaza. Free Gaza, free Palestine. Hard to believe this student was stalked by a coward behind the wheel of a car. Has he been identified or arrested yet? [Portion removed.]
Registered user
Community Center
on Nov 9, 2023 at 7:40 am
Registered user
on Nov 9, 2023 at 7:40 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Nov 9, 2023 at 9:32 am
Registered user
on Nov 9, 2023 at 9:32 am
"NPR reports about 10000 Palestinians have been killed along with 1400 Israelis - nearly all civilians. Good for everyone who is non-violently protesting this slaughter, demanding a just peace."
That 10,000 number comes from Hamas, who also blamed Israel for the rocket from Islamic Jihad that hit that hospital and claimed 500 killed.
Trust no numbers, especially those that come from the "Palestinian Health Ministry" (i.e., Hamas)
[Portion removed.]
Registered user
Crescent Park
on Nov 9, 2023 at 11:47 am
Registered user
on Nov 9, 2023 at 11:47 am
The death toll in Gaza does not come only from Hamas. UNRA had reported 72 of their staff kill as of several days ago. Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International and other foreign groups are also in Gaza. Looking at the photos taken all over Gaza, the destruction is such that it is hard to imagine the death toll being anything less than 10,000. And one should also note that foreign doctors and nurses have been working extensively in Gaza for over a decade with zero reports of Hamas hiding hospitals or of tunnels under hospitals. Furthermore, Israel has a very long history of lying about crimes it has committed. The most dramatic example is the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty with bombs, napalm, cannon fire and torpedoes including machine gunning the life boats when US sailors tried to evacuate. Fortunately, a resourceful sailor what able to reconnect the ship radio and call for help, at which point the Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats left the scene. Israel claimed it was an accident of mistaken identity and our government chose to ignore the 34 dead American servicemen.
More recently Israel tried to blame the murder of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on insurgents and then after multiple western news companies conducted detailed investigations proving conclusively that the bullets came from IDF soldiers, they said it "May have" come from the soldiers but it was an accident. Still no one held accountable. Then there is the West Bank where the IDF is actively engaged in home and school demolitions (they refuse to issue building permits to Palestinians on their own land), land theft, protecting illegal settlers even when they commit acts of terror against Palestinians. The US has, since the beginning, declared the Israeli-only settlements to be illegal but our Congress continues to spend our tax dollars to protect these illegal settlements and to fund the apartheid regime that continues to build settlements on land stolen from Palestinians.
Registered user
College Terrace
on Nov 10, 2023 at 11:11 am
Registered user
on Nov 10, 2023 at 11:11 am
@Noel. TY! Tragically the description of history and facts you lay out recall our slaughter and genocide of our first native inhabitants -- a mighty peoples of the Americas. North and South. Until we take responsibility for our past mass death & crimes committed on our soil, why would our US Gov admit to any overseas! Despicable. Life out of balance. By land, air and sea the lies and coverups continue. Heartbroken to pieces.
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Nov 29, 2023 at 11:23 am
Registered user
on Nov 29, 2023 at 11:23 am
Noel,
We get it. You side with the illiberal Islamists who keep women at home execute those with alternative lifestyles. Strange to see folks align themselves with movements that would probably put them in jail... or worse against the only democracy in the region.
As for your claim that the 10,000 number is believable -- that says a lot about the critical thinking that's lacking on campus today.
Have you even been to Israel? Or do you just experience it online?