Arab-American civil rights activist attacked
Suspect allegedly threatened to behead Linda Sarsour
A leading Arab-American civil rights activist who has spoken out many times to condemn hate crimes against Arabs became the victim of a hate crime herself in Bay Ridge on Wednesday, authorities said.
Linda Sarsour, 34, executive director of the Arab-American Association of New York, was attacked by a man who allegedly yelled anti-Arab slurs at her and threatened to behead her during the incident, which took place outside the association’s headquarters at 7111 Fifth Avenue on the afternoon of Sept. 3.
The suspect, identified by police as Brian Boshell, 45, was arrested and charged with menacing, aggravated harassment as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon.