(ATLANTA, GA – 4/22/2019) The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia) today welcomed the arrest of a Georgia man who cursed and assaulted a Muslim Uber driver outside the SunTrust Park baseball stadium after on Atlanta Braves game.
“We thank the Cobb County Police Department for immediately arresting this man, and we encourage the prosecutor’s office to pursue this case,” said Murtaza Khwaja, staff attorney with CAIR-Georgia.
On April 2, 2019, a Muslim Uber driver parked at SunTrust Park after an Atlanta Braves Game.
When a man who smelled of alcohol entered his car, the driver informed the man that he was not his Uber driver. Cursing, the man exited the vehicle.
According to a police report and cell phone video of the incident, the man’s friend then approached the Uber driver’s car, threatened to “f*cking destroy him,” opened his car door, spit on him, and punched him. The attacker also twice made an Islamophobic slur, saying, “How many virgins do you get for sucking c***?”
SEE: Partial Video of Incident (WARNING – GRAPHIC)
Cobb County Police officers arrested the man, charging him with simple battery and public drunkenness. He has been released on bond, and he has not yet been formally indicted, according to the court dockets.
SEE: Police Report – SunTrust Park Incident
Khwaja added, “This crime serves as another reminder of why Georgia should recognize, document, and penalize hate crimes. Without a hate crimes law, officers and prosecutors cannot officially document or appropriately punish these incidents for what they are: crimes of hate.”