Ramirez, Underwood, Jacobs, Watson Coleman Introduce in the House Bicameral Resolution Honoring Wadee Alfayoumi with Senators Durbin, Duckworth

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswomen Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)announced the House reintroduction of a resolution honoring the life of the 6-year-old Palestinian boy, murdered October 14, 2023 as a victim of a hate crime for his Palestinian Muslim identity.

The bicameral resolution affirms that no one, especially children, should be a target of hate because of their place of origin, ethnicity, or religion. The resolution also strongly condemns hate crimes, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Palestinian, anti-immigrant discrimination.

"Two years after the cruel murder of Wadee Alfayoumi, a beautiful 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, anti-immigrant sentiments, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and hateful rhetoric endangers us all," said Ramirez. "With the reintroduction of the Wadee Resolution, we stand opposed to hate and affirm our shared humanity. I thank Senators Durbin and Duckworth, Representative Underwood, Wadee's family, and human rights advocates for their leadership."

"Targeting someone based on their ethnicity or religion is morally reprehensible, and targeting an innocent child for his identity is even more unconscionable," said Durbin. "On the anniversary of Wadee's death, our nation continues to mourn him, a mere child who was taken too soon. In reintroducing this resolution, we are honoring his memory and condemning all forms of hate. We must continue speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate everywhere."

"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." 

"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 our resolution passed 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," said Duckworth.

"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 the last two years 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 Watson Coleman.

"Wadee Alfayoumi should have turned eight years old last week. Instead, he'll forever remain six years old after he was tragically murdered because of his Palestinian Muslim identity. No one deserves to be the victim of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian racism or violence, and that's why all of us need to stand together against these senseless acts of hatred. I'm proud to help reintroduce this bicameral resolution to honor Wadee's life and legacy and to uphold our shared humanity," said Jacobs.

The Representatives were joined by 10 members of the Illinois delegation, including Representatives Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Sean Casten (IL-06), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Bill Foster (IL-11), and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13).

This legislation also has the support of local and national organizations, including the Muslim Civic Coalition, Jewish Voice for Peace (Chicago), MPower Change Action Fund, The People's Lobby - 3 Rivers, United Muslim American Association of Law Enforcement Professionals, Organize for Peace, 99 Coalition, Organize for Peace, The Sikh Coalition, American Muslims for Palestine (Chicago), Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Chicago), American Muslim Community Foundation, Japanese American Citizen League (Chicago), Chinese American Service League (CASL) (Chicago), Palestinian Assembly for Liberation, Illinois Coalition for Human Rights, CAIR-Chicago, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).

"Wadee's story will forever remind us of what hate can destroy - and what love and community organizing can build. Wadee represents every American child, and a resolution in his name reaffirms that each of us deserves to feel safe, proud of our identity and heritage, and free to build a life of dignity and hope," said Dr. Dilara Sayeed, President, Muslim Civic Coalition.

The Resolution resolves that:

1. The United States lost the beautiful light of Wadee Alfayoumi because of hate;
2. It is the duty of elected officials and media to tell the truth without dehumanizing rhetoric when informing the public of factual information;
3. Freedom of speech and peaceful protest are constitutionally protected and a fundamental cornerstone of democracy; and
4. The United States has zero tolerance for hate crimes, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab discrimination.

Full text of the resolution is available HERE.