CAIR-NY Condemns Anti-Hispanic Hate Crime in NYC Subway, Welcomes Sentencing for Racist Threats in Upstate NY
(NEW YORK, NY, 7/21/25) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a recent anti-Hispanic hate crime attack at the Fulton Street subway station and welcomed the sentencing of a South Carolina woman who made violent racist threats against a Black man and his acquaintances in upstate New York.
SEE: D.A. Bragg: Man Indicted For Anti-Hispanic Hate Crime At Lower Manhattan Subway Station
SEE: Manhattan Man Indicted for Alleged Hate Crime Assault at Fulton Street Subway Station
According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, the 35-year-old suspect, Andre Cheeves, allegedly targeted a 51-year-old man on the northbound 4 and 5 train platform at the Fulton Street station. Without provocation, Cheeves reportedly began swinging a metal bike chain while shouting “f--- Hispanics,” repeatedly chasing the victim and attempting to strike him. The victim, who had no prior connection to the suspect, managed to escape and alert nearby police officers. The suspect was arrested on the scene and later indicted for multiple hate crime charges.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq., said:
“It is both heartbreaking and infuriating that someone simply waiting for a train can be targeted in such a violent, hate-fueled way. Our subway systems — and our state as a whole — must be safe for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, faith, or background. This attack is a reminder that racism and xenophobia are not abstract problems. They manifest in real violence, and they impact real people. We condemn this vile act and urge continued vigilance and justice from our city’s institutions.”
CAIR-NY also welcomes the sentencing of Kristin Keeble, 54, of Pageland, South Carolina, who left multiple threatening audio messages for a man in Catskill, New York, on October 26th, 2023. Keeble threatened to hang the man, a woman he knew, and that woman’s children from a tree, referencing the Ku Klux Klan. On July 15, 2025, she was sentenced to five months in jail, six months of home detention, and three years of supervises release after pleading guilty.
SEE: South Carolina woman sentenced for threatening Catskill man
SEE: South Carolina Woman Sentenced for Sending Threats to Kill a Catskill Man
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq., said:
“This sentencing sends a clear message that racist, violent threats will not be tolerated, especially those invoking this country’s legacy of lynching and racial terror. These threats have no place in our society and will be met with accountability. Not only do these vile threats constitute hate speech, but they were also an attack meant to terrorize and retraumatize. We stand in full solidarity with the victims and commend those who ensured these threats were taken seriously and prosecuted accordingly.”
CAIR-NY continues to call for vigilance against the rise in hate speech, white supremacist rhetoric, and racially motivated violence that endangers Black Americans and other marginalized groups. We encourage individuals targeted by hate speech or threats to review our Know Your Rights – Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents guide and report incidents immediately.
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com;
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com