California woman who attacked praying Muslims set to charge with hate crime

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Tuesday 22 Dec 2015 - 10:49 Makkah mean time-11-3-1437 Image from http://ift.tt/1iSD28b California, (IINA) - The California woman who attacked praying Muslims at a park in an encounter that was caught on camera is now being charged with a hate crime, prosecutors said, The Arab American News reported. Denise Slader, a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation employee was filmed ridiculing Rasheed Albeshari, a Bay Area Muslim man. She was captured on video throwing coffee on him and hitting him with an umbrella after a park ranger attempted to break up the confrontation. Slader now faces two charges battery on a school, park or hospital property, and violation of civil rights. According to the complaint, Slader violated section 422.6 (a) of the California penal code, which states: About 3 p.m. Dec. 6, Slader was filmed interrupting a prayer service at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley, officials said. Albeshari and his friends, who frequent the park weekly, were praying on the grass while Slader was walking in the park. She was ruffled after she seen them conducting their prayers. Slader approached them and began "talking ... trash," mostly about religion, Albeshari said. That's when Albeshari said he decided to take out his cellphone and record the encounter with Slader. He later posted the video on Facebook. Slader was recorded saying, "The people you tortured are going to be in eternity and heaven…... Your mind has been taken over, brainwashed and you have nothing but hate." In the days after the incident, Slader was still employed with the Department of Corrections, but her actions were under review, department spokesman Luis Patino said. "We expect all of our employees to treat everyone with dignity and respect both on and off the job," he said in a statement. Corrections officials did not have an immediate update on the investigation. He believes Slader's actions may have been fueled by the shooting rampage in San Bernardino and billionaire businessman Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump comments about Muslims. Soon after Albeshari posted his video on Facebook, he said he was surprised to see an outpouring of support from strangers. "It's just overwhelming," he said. "I think that's what makes this nation great: tolerance and acceptance." SM/IINA