October 16, 2025

Duckworth, Durbin, Ramirez Reintroduce Bicameral Resolution Honoring Wadee Alfayoumi

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-03) led more than a dozen of their colleagues in the bicameral reintroduction of their resolution honoring the life of Wadee Alfayoumi, the six-year-old Palestinian boy murdered October 14, 2023 in a hate crime for his Palestinian Muslim identity. The 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 and antisemitism, as well as anti-Palestinian and anti-immigrant discrimination.

“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,” said Senator Duckworth. “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.”

“Targeting someone based on their ethnicity or religion is morally reprehensible, and targeting an innocent child for his identity is even more unconscionable,” said Senator 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.”

“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 Congresswoman 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.”

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.

In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the resolution was co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

In addition to Ramirez in the House, the resolution was led by U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) and co-sponsored by 10 members of the Illinois delegation, including Representatives Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL-02), Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan D. Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and Nikki Budzinski (D-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).

Full text of the resolution is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

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