12-Year-Old Charged with Hate Crime Against Muslim Students in Connecticut

A 12-year-old girl from Wallace Middle School in Waterbury, Connecticut, has been charged with hate crime-related offenses after allegedly assaulting two 13-year-old Muslim classmates during a gym class on March 3. The incident involved physical violence, with reports of injuries to the victims, including bruises and a bloody nose, prompting claims from their families that the attack was motivated by religious bias due to the girls' hijabs. Waterbury police confirmed the altercation was driven by the victims' religion and ethnicity, leading to felony charges against the assailant. Community leaders and advocates have expressed concerns that this incident is not isolated, highlighting ongoing issues of harassment faced by Muslim students in the area. The school district has taken disciplinary action and is working on measures to enhance safety and prevent further occurrences. Calls for mandatory anti-bullying training addressing discrimination have also been made by local advocacy groups.