WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Special Representative on Antisemitism, Racism and Intolerance for the Organization Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in response to the fatal stabbing of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian American in Plainfield, Illinois. His mother also was stabbed but is expected to survive.

“I have been struggling to find the words to express how appalled I am by the murder of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume. The attack on this young Palestinian American and his mother is an unspeakable tragedy and should shock all Americans.

“Hamas’ terror attack against Israel is not an excuse to commit hate crimes. There is never any excuse to commit hate crimes. We cannot allow such vicious activity to become normalized, and each incident needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness. All leaders – every American – must speak out against such hate.

“Myrna and I will be praying for the Al-Fayoume family.”