Attack at Illinois Panera Sparks Hate Crime Charges

In an incident that sparked controversy, a 64-year-old woman from Darien found herself in trouble with the law after she allegedly targeted a man wearing a pro-Palestinian sweatshirt and his pregnant wife at a Panera Bread in Downers Grove. Alexandra Szustakiewicz reportedly yelled insults at the man and tried to swipe the phone from his wife's hands as she recorded the confrontation. Authorities have charged Szustakiewicz with a hate crime, specifying that her actions were motivated by the man's perceived national origin. Szustakiewicz was arrested the next day and released pending trial by a DuPage County judge, with conditions that prevented her from returning to the Panera and prohibited any contact with the alleged victims. The state's attorney for DuPage County, Robert Berlin, emphasized that such behavior has no place in a civilized society and that his office is prepared to bring appropriate charges. The executive director of CAIR-Chicago, Ahmed Rehab, noted that this incident is part of a broader increase in anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic behavior, particularly as the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its second year. Rehab stressed the importance of recognizing and addressing such actions within the wider context of hateful phenomena. As the conflict in the Middle East persists, there has been an increase in anti-Semitic sentiments as well. Szustakiewicz's trial is scheduled for December 16, according to court records.