Hayward man convicted of hate crime, robbery during Gaza protest in El Cerrito
Christopher Khamis Victor Husary, 36, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to one count of robbery and a hate crime enhancement for his actions during a demonstration related to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.
During the protest and counterprotest, Husary used force and intimidation to unlawfully take a national flag of Israel from a woman and burn it.
Husary was sentenced to 364 days in county jail and two years of probation. His sentence is set to begin Jan. 2.
After Husary left the courthouse in Martinez on Wednesday, New York City police officers were waiting to arrest him for allegedly harassing a Jewish subway passenger on June 10 while out on bail for the El Cerrito case, prosecutors said.
"Everyone has the right to express their beliefs under the First Amendment and we deeply appreciate those who bravely stood up for their rights despite attempts by the defendant to silence them," Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement. "As I said when this case was filed earlier this year, the First Amendment does not protect people who threaten others, cause injury, engage in intimidation, or damage property. And when harmful actions are motivated by bias against a person's race, gender, religion, or national origin, it constitutes a hate crime."
