Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, faces second- and third-degree assault charges as a hate crime after allegedly pepper-spraying her Uber driver, a 45-year-old Muslim man, while he prayed in Arabic at a red light on July 31, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The incident took place in the early morning on the Upper East Side, when Guilbeault, seated in the back, allegedly lunged forward and sprayed the driver in the face, causing immediate pain and irritation.
The driver managed to call 911, and Guilbeault was arrested on the spot. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 13.
District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg condemned the attack, highlighting the rising trend in bias-related incidents, particularly targeting Arab and Muslim communities.
The Council on American Islamic Relations noted a sharp increase in reported hate crimes and discrimination cases, marking 2023 as the highest year in its records.
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