The Daily Populous Thursday October 31st, 2024 day edition
Authored by theguardian.com and submitted by lala_b11

A New York woman who pepper-sprayed a Muslim Uber driver while he was praying has been indicted by the Manhattan district attorney on hate crime charges.

Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, is shown in a surveillance video repeatedly pepper-spraying her Uber driver, Shohel Mahmud. The assault took place in August on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, near the corner of east 65th Street and Lexington Avenue, shortly after Mahmud began reciting a prayer in Arabic.

Guilbeault’s fellow passenger, an unnamed woman, is seen trying to prevent her from continuing the assault.

The driver called 911 and Guilbeault was arrested.

Guilbeault was officially charged in a state supreme court indictment “with one count each of Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree”.

“As alleged, Jennifer Guilbeault senselessly assaulted a Muslim Uber driver while he was just doing his job,” Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, said in a statement. “The victim is a hardworking New Yorker who should not have to face this type of hate because of his identity. Everyone is welcome to live and work in Manhattan, and our Hate Crimes Unit will continue to address bias-motivated attacks by thoroughly investigating and prosecuting cases, conducting community outreach, and supporting victims.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) publicly expressed support for the charges.

We are aware of the actions of this former employee and we don’t condone this behavior. — D. Pagan Comm. (@DPaganComm) August 5, 2024

“We welcome the hate crime charges in this case and thank law enforcement authorities for sending a clear message that those who allegedly carry out bias-motivated attacks will face the consequences,” said Afaf Nasher, the Cair-NY executive director.

Guilbeault’s former employer, the public relations and marketing firm D Pagan Communications, wrote on X it is aware of her actions and “don’t condone this behavior”.

byakko on October 31st, 2024 at 07:07 UTC »

The driver, while being blinded, in pain, still being actively assaulted, still had the civic mindedness to get back into the car with the demon Karen to put it in park cos it was rolling into traffic after he fled the car

> Mahmud is seen unbuckling his seat belt and jumping out of the car but immediately returns as the vehicle moves. He then puts the car in park while the second passenger pulls Guilbeault back.

Which other than hate crime charges, she definitely gonna have to get charges and her brain examined for attacking a driver in the eyes while he’s still driving the car that you are a passenger of as well.

Also lol at the girl for claiming ‘not racist’ if her buddy is telling on her:

> When the second passenger asked Guilbeault why she attacked the driver, Guilbeault allegedly responded, “he’s brown,” according to the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY).

WCland on October 31st, 2024 at 01:36 UTC »

I read about this in the NYT and it sounds so bizarre. She was chatting with her friend during the ride, normal Uber passenger stuff, then just went ballistic when the driver started quietly praying. Her friend was aghast, and this woman also seems to be a New York resident so she should be used to diversity. She will be convicted considering her friend will testify and there’s video

CupidStunt13 on October 31st, 2024 at 01:06 UTC »

Good. The guy did nothing to deserve it.

> Guilbeault’s former employer, the public relations and marketing firm D Pagan Communications, wrote on X it is aware of her actions and “don’t condone this behavior”

The idiot worked for a PR firm? Apparently she didn't learn anything there.