A motorist stopped to scream at a group of Muslim women praying in an Atlanta-area parking lot, telling them “nobody really wants y’all (explicit) here.”
The incident which lasted just about three minutes was caught on video and posted on an Instagram account by bill.I.am.
“I was really just shocked honestly. I was shaken up, I wasn’t expecting anything,” said one of the women to Atlanta News First.
According to CAIR Georgia, it took place in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta where the women had set up a prayer rug in an empty parking space on EID, the last day of Ramadan.
“We are deeply troubled at this perpetrator’s blatantly racist and offensive remarks and have filed a police report,” CAIR-Georgia’s Executive Director Azka Mahmood said in a statement. “CAIR-Georgia will support the victims, including ensuring that Alpharetta Police investigate this matter fully and thoroughly.”
At one point the man could be telling the women who were all born in Georgia to “go back to your country” and accusing them of “worshipping a false god.”
Alpharetta police called the incident “disgusting” and against the values of the city. However, it determined that “no crime was committed” saying “all speech is protected.”
The women told Atlanta News First they understand the police response and vow they what happened to them will make them stronger.
“First thing I thought was either I’m going to get shot right now or I’m going to get run over. I was scared and my heart dropped.”
She said they tried to walk away to deescalate the situation.
“All of it was just out of pure hate and his disgust of us, which I don’t understand.”
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