VIDEO: U.S. Senator Reed Condemns Assault of Woman by Laborers' Union at DNC

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Reed Condemns Assault of Woman by Laborers' Union at DNC

On Tuesday, GoLocal published an interview with a professor of law — a Muslim woman — who says she was assaulted by members of the Laborers' International Union at the Democratic National Convention last month.

GoLocal showed videos of the incidents to U.S. Senator Jack Reed on Thursday, who condemned the behavior.

The union is headquartered in Providence.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Video captured the incident of the professor being hit, and her banner ripped out of her hands. The woman is Dr. Nadia Ahmad, a professor of law at Barry University.

Reed, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “Well, it's completely unacceptable. That's not the process of deliberation and consideration and collaboration which should be the essence of any convention." 

"This is the first I've become aware of it. She should pursue all her legal remedies. And with the evidence on her side...she prevails, and that will vindicate her," he added.

 

 

Formal Complaints

Ahmad has filed formal complaints with the Democratic Party, the Chicago Police, and the Chicago Commission on Human Rights.

In Ahmad's letter of complaint, Ahmad, an elected delegate representing Florida, wrote: “On the opening night of the convention, August 19, 2024, I was peacefully protesting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by holding a banner that read ‘Stop Arming Israel.’ This protest was in line with my constitutional right to free speech and peaceful assembly. However, I was targeted by five members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), who aggressively and physically assaulted me without any provocation. They were seated in the box office behind me.”

She further wrote in her complaint:

The individuals involved in the assault were:

- Brent Booker, General President, LiUNA

- Michael F. Sabitoni, General Secretary-Treasurer, LiUNA

- Michael E. Hellstrom, LiUNA Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager

- Oscar De La Torre, LiUNA President Local 261

- Scott Gustafson, Regional Organizing Director at LiUNA, Old Rochester Region High

"These men not only exhibited physical aggression, but their actions also appeared to be driven by prejudice against my visible Muslim identity. I was physically attacked by three men, while the other two forcibly removed the protest banner from my hands. The nature of the attack leads me to believe that it was motivated by Islamophobia, as I was the only visibly Muslim woman involved in the protest," she continued. 

READ MORE

Videos posted to X by Renee Bracey Sherman and Akela Lacy.