IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Website Launched to Honor Life of Wadee
ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WADEE’S 8TH BIRTHDAY, MUSLIM CIVIC COALITION LAUNCHES NATIONAL ACTION AND WEBSITE TO HONOR HIS LIFE AND END HATE & DEHUMANIZATION
Date: October 6, 2025
Contact: info@muslimciviccoalition.org
Plainfield, Illinois — October 6, 2025 — On what would have been his 8th birthday, communities across the nation are honoring Wadee AlFayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian American Muslim boy murdered in Illinois in October 2023 in a hate crime that also critically injured his mother, Hanan Shaheen.
Wadee’s killing, the first anti-Palestinian hate-driven murder on U.S. soil following the escalation of violence in Gaza, exposed the deadly consequences of hate and dehumanization and remains a profound loss to his family, community, and the global public as the genocide against Palestinians continues to unfold.
“Wadee’s family were immigrants and refugees who came to the United States seeking safety and peace, the very promise of America–and it was denied to them,” states Muslim Civic Coalition President Dr. Dilara Sayeed. Today, we live in a moment where immigrants, refugees, and Palestinian communities are once again being targeted, vilified, and criminalized. “As violence and political repression intensify, our shared responsibility is to work toward eradicating the hatred, fear, and structural racism that enable such violence, the same forces that allow systemic targeting of immigrants and the continuation of genocide abroad, while U.S. tax dollars continue to support military actions contributing to widespread civilian harm and displacement.” shared Amina Barhumi, Advocacy and Policy Lead of the Muslim Civic Coalition.
At a time when hate-fueled violence continues to rise, recent data underscore the urgency of action. According to a 2025 national study by the Institute for Understanding Anti-Palestinian Racism found that 88% of respondents experienced or witnessed anti-Palestinian racism since October 2023, with over 70% reporting health impacts and three-quarters feeling isolated. The report documents how dehumanizing rhetoric and policy have fueled discrimination, silencing, and fear, all conditions that make violence like Wadee’s murder possible.
“Today, on what would’ve been Wadee’s 8th birthday, we join his family, loved ones, and people around the world in honoring his life. As we remember his light and joy, we recognize the violence that stole him from his community. Bigotry and dehumanizing rhetoric deny our shared humanity and threaten our safety,” said Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. “That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the Wadee Resolution—to honor his memory, condemn hate speech, and affirm our shared humanity. In Wadee’s honor, let’s recommit to building a world where all children can live in peace, free from fear and violence. May his memory continue to be a blessing and a reminder to turn our good intentions into good action.” Read the joint statement honoring Wadee’s life from Congresswoman Ramirez, Congresswoman Underwood, and Senators Durbin and Duckworth.
In September 2024, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Wadee Resolution, affirming the rights of Muslim, Palestinian, and all marginalized communities to live freely and safely. In April 2025, the Illinois Legislature also unanimously passed the state version (S.Res. 0265), officially designating September 21 as Wadee AlFayoumi Day. The resolution honors Wadee’s life and identity while calling for education, solidarity, and action to protect all communities from hate. The legislation, led by the Muslim Civic Coalition and its partners, including MPower Action, Organize for Peace, The 99 Coalition, The Sikh Coalition, the Chicago Chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace, Asians Advancing Justice, American Muslims for Palestine, and others, now serves as a model for national efforts to confront hate, misinformation, and political violence.
On September 21, 2025, hundreds gathered in Plainfield for the first-ever Wadee Day Commemoration and Park Dedication at Van Horn Playground Park, where Wadee once played. Families, artists, faith leaders, and advocates joined in remembrance and solidarity. The event included prayers, a permanent memorial plaque, and a live art installation by Alhub Collective honoring Wadee and Palestinian children in Gaza.
To advance Wadee’s legacy, the Muslim Civic Coalition is launching www.Wadee.org, a national website and action hub providing educational resources, advocacy tools, and opportunities for individuals and organizations to sign on, take action, and amplify Wadee’s story. The site will also share updates on the reintroduction of the Wadee Resolution in Congress and provide information on how to support its passage.
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Muslim Civic Coalition is a partnership of hundreds of changemakers and organizations advancing civic education, advocacy, and community organizing for an inclusive, just society across the U.S. Learn more at www.MuslimCivicCoalition.org.