Florida Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for Threatening CAIR in Canton
Michael Shapiro, 72, of West Palm Beach, called CAIR's office three times in December 2023 and left violent and hateful voicemails, according to US Attorney Dawn Ison, Fox 2 reported on Tuesday.
Shapiro was charged with three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce after an investigation by the Canton Police Department and the FBI. He could face up to 10 years in prison for each count if convicted.
Amy Doukoure, the staff attorney for CAIR, said the calls were “terrifying” and came from a blocked number. She said Shapiro laughed “maniacally” and told them to go back to Palestine, cursed at them, and said he was going to kill them.
"We had no idea who the person was - he could have been around the corner - he could have been in the parking lot," she said.
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She said CAIR contacted the Canton police, who increased patrols and alerted the FBI. She said CAIR's office was closed for about three weeks because of the security concerns.
The indictment also alleges that Shapiro targeted CAIR because of the religion and national origin of its staff and clients. Doukoure said the threats echoed the language of Israeli propaganda that dehumanized Muslims.
She said Shapiro was also charged in January with threatening to kill a member of Congress and their children, and that he had a history of threatening other politicians in 2019.
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There has been an uptick in anti-Muslim bias and hate in the US since the start of Israeli regime’s war on the Gaza Strip in October.
Source: Agencies
