HONOR
WADEE
END HATE AND DEHUMANIZATION
“You are all determined not to let the world forget my son. For this, I thank you.”
Wadee’s Story
Wadee AlFayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian American Muslim boy, was murdered in Illinois on October 14, 2023, in a hate crime targeting his Palestinian and Muslim identity. Born and raised in the U.S., his family sought safety from the dehumanizing rhetoric directed at Palestinians.
Known for his joy and kindness, Wadee was brutally stabbed 26 times and tragically lost his life. Evidence confirmed that during the attack, the perpetrator shouted, “All Muslims must die, and your people must die,” and consumed anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian hate content.
The Wadee Resolution honors his life, acknowledges the reality of hate-fueled violence, and affirms every child’s right to live free from fear, dehumanization, and hate.
Upcoming Dates & Actions
Wadee's Birthday
10/06/2025
Remembrance Day
10/14/2025
Wadee Day
9/25/2026
Six Historic Moments We Achieved As a Community in Honor of Wadee
U.S. Congressional Hearing on Hate (Sept 2024)
Wadee’s photo stood behind Senator Dick Durbin during a national hearing on hate. Anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian briefing data was submitted. The hearing became a symbol of the deadly consequences of hate and dehumanization.
Unanimous Passage of the Wadee Resolution in the U.S. Senate (Sept 2024) This resolution affirmed the rights of Muslim, Palestinian, and all marginalized Americans to live freely and express their Palestinian heritage and identity.
Creation of Wadee Day in Illinois (April 2025) The Illinois legislature unanimously passed a statewide resolution establishing Wadee Day on September 21, 2025 and a call to resist hate and dehumanization and remember children like Wadee.
Conviction and Recognition of a Hate Crime (May 2025) The man who murdered Wadee and brutally attacked his mother was convicted. The court named the crime for what it was: a hate crime.
Wadee Monument Unveiled in Plainfield (June 2025). Local interfaith and grassroots communities united to establish a permanent memorial in the very park where Wadee once lived. This collective act ensures that his life will never be forgotten and that his legacy will continue to inspire justice, healing, and hope.
First Wadee Day Commemoration & Park Dedication (Sept 2025)
Community members, families, neighbors, artists, and activists gathered in Plainfield for the first official Wadee Day, established through the Wadee Resolution. The commemoration, which included a park plaque dedication, called communities to remembrance, solidarity, and action against hate and dehumanization.
