Vermonters Urged to Support Muslim Community after Attack on Palestinian Students

TEHRAN (IQNA) – The governor of the US state of Vermont called on the people of the state to unite in helping the Muslim and Arab community after three Palestinian youths were attacked by a gunman.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott offered his sympathy to the families of the three young Palestinian men who were shot in Burlington over the weekend.

Scott called the shootings a sad and baffling act of hate. And he called on Vermonters to not let the incident escalate tensions over the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

“I urge Vermonters to unite to help the community heal, and not let this incident insight more hate or divisiveness," he said.

Scott said he reached out to the president of the Islamic Society of Vermont to offer whatever support his administration can provide.

“And I just wanted to be sure that he knew that he had our support in any way needed, and that he was able to reassure the followers of the Islamic faith that we stood behind them as well."

The three men wounded in the attack are receiving treatment at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

The alleged gunman, Jason J. Eaton, is being held without bail on charges of attempted second-degree murder.

Source: vermontpublic.org