Muslim student claims classmate tried to pull her hijab off

Rasa - An Albuquerque Muslim woman who goes to the University of New Mexico said she was mortified, after she said a classmate pulled off her hijab and then screamed hateful things about her.

News ID: 424996

Date: 12 November 2016 - 23:07

RNA - It happened Tuesday afternoon at the Zimmerman Library on UNM’s main campus.

University officials would not go into detail over this specific incident, but did confirm they are investigating numerous “alleged hate/bias incidents” that followed Tuesday’s presidential election.

“We're honestly helpless in these situations,” the woman told KOAT-TV during an interview Thursday.

She said that male student, who she was familiar with, came up behind her in the library and grabbed at the top of her forehead and pulled back.

“He's shaking me, and I managed to get out of his grip,” she said. “I turn around and say, ‘What's your problem? What's that all about?’”

She said he then began screaming racially charged remarks about Muslims. She reports he was also wearing a Donald Trump T-shirt.

After a few minutes, she says he stopped, but fired off one more remark she said was hurtful.

“As he walked away he said, ‘I’m just going to go sit down before you throw a grenade at me.’”

Francie Cordova is the director at the Office of Equal Opportunity on UNM’s campus.

“I think we're going to get more of these reports, because we know what's going on nationally,” Cordova said Thursday.

She reiterated that UNM’s student Code of Conduct does not tolerate discriminatory behavior.

“People have to be respectful, and they can't target people, it's against policy, it's against federal and state law,” Cordova said.

University administers launched a task force Thursday to address the alleged incidents that are reported. They also sent an email out to all students explaining what resources are available to them.

The Muslim woman said she doesn’t plan to press charges, but wants people to understand that if they see something happening, they should help.

“Step up and take responsibility and say, ‘Stop it,’ because that could make such a difference,” she said.

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