December 4, 2025
Mr. Welch (for himself and Mr. Sanders) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Condemning anti-Palestinian hatred on the anniversary of the attack in Burlington, Vermont, on November 25, 2023.
Whereas, on November 25, 2023, three college students were shot while walking down a street in Burlington, Vermont, where they were visiting family for Thanksgiving;
Whereas all three victims were grievously injured, including one who was paralyzed;
Whereas Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad were attacked simply for wearing a scarf using a traditional Palestinian pattern and speaking in Arabic;
Whereas Palestinian communities across the United States and the Middle East have suffered growing threats and acts of violence and prejudice linked to anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hatred during the war in Gaza; and
Whereas no individual in the United States should be subjected to violence or intimidation because of their religion, ethnicity, heritage, or expressions of identity: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)
mourns those killed and injured in the United States by anti-Palestinian violence since the beginning of the war in Gaza, including the murder of Wadea al-Fayoume in Plainfield Township, Illinois, and the violent attack on Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad in Burlington, Vermont;
(2)
decries the bias, hatred, and threats to life and safety experienced by many Palestinian Americans during the two-year conflict in Gaza;
(3)
condemns hateful language that—
(A)
advocates for the removal of Palestinians from Israel or the Palestinian territories;
(B)
suggests that Palestinians should move to other countries; and
(C)
denies the existence, cultural traditions, or right to a state of the Palestinian people; and
(4)
commends community leaders in the United States, Israel, and the West Bank and Gaza who have spoken out against hateful language and urged peace and mutual respect between different communities, religions, and traditions.