Chicago Indymedia : http://chicago.indymedia.org/archive
Chicago Indymedia

LOCAL News :: Civil & Human Rights

Racist attack on former Chicagoan Iraqi-American filmmaker Usama Alshaibi

racist attack on Usama Alshaibi, Iraqi-American filmmaker
My friend Usama Alshaibi, an Iraqi-American independent filmmaker, Director/Producer at Kartemquin Films, former Chicagoan, former student at Columbia College, who worked with Studs Terkel, and made the film “Nice Bombs” about his trip to Iraq, was viciously attacked and beaten in Fairfield Iowa by four men on Sunday Feb. 6. They shouted racist slurs like “sand nigger” at him and kicked him in the head.

Here is his story.
I was a victim of a hate crime. This is what happened to me.
by Usama Alshaibi on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 6:33pm
Hello everyone. Thank you all for your support and warmth. I’m still in shock but moving forward. I admit I’m a bit scared for my safety and for my wife’s safety. We live in Fairfiled, Iowa, a small town and people all know one another.
Here is my statement that I am giving to the police:
March 6, 2011, I was walking home from Vivo’s restaurant with my friend Manuel Tsingaris around 12:11 am. We parted ways and I continued walking toward 9th street. I heard music and people having a party. I spoke with a girl standing outside the house where I heard the sounds. I asked her “where’s the party?” She said “The party’s upstairs.”
The door was open. I went into the house and up the stairs. As I entered someone asked me who I was. I told them my name – Usama. At that point I was hit by someone in the sides and the face. My glasses were knocked off my face. Someone said “How dare you come in here, you sand nigger. Fucking Usama Bin Laden, you sand nigger.” Four young men began beating me as I tried to leave. I told them to please stop and that I was leaving. I ended up on the ground outside the house where they continued to kick me in the face repeatedly, and kept calling me “sand nigger.” I tried to cover my face with my arms to block the blows.
Afterward, with my face and eyes covered in blood and having difficulty seeing without my glasses, I made my way to the parking lot of Family Video at Burlington and 9th. I called my friend Manuel who came to find me. Someone had called for police and ambulance. I don’t know who, but would like a reverse 911 report to find out what they saw.
My comprehension was hazy after the beating. I was completely disoriented and cannot remember which house this happened in. It was near Family Video.
I am the victim of a hate crime and I would like this case to be treated accordingly.
Usama is on Facebook. Please everybody, send him your support.
At the following link you can see a photo of his facial injuries and donate for his medical and legal expenses. usamafund.blogspot.com/2011/03/donate-to-usamas-medical-and-legal-fees_5741.html

Please repost this. Stop racist attacks on Arab Americans. An injury to one is an injury to all!
 
 

Donate

Views

Account Login

Media Centers

 

This site made manifest by dadaIMC software