Passenger charged with hate crimes over assault of Delta worker
Monday, 27 Jan, 2017
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A passenger is facing multiple charges of hate crimes after a bizarre, unprovoked attack on an airport worker at New York JKF Airport.
Robin A. Rhodes, 57 was arrested and has been charged over a confrontation with a staffer at Delta Air Lines’ Sky Club lounge in Terminal 2.
He is accused of assaulting and harassing Rabeeya Khan, and shouting expletives about Islam and ISIS.
Ms Khan wore a hijab head scarf.
According to prosecutors Rhodes kicked the woman and blocked her from leaving the lounge.
After a work colleague came to help, Rhodes sank to his knees as if to mock someone in prayer and made disparaging remarks about Islam, citing President Donald Trump at one point.
Rhodes is facing charges including third-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, first-degree harassment as a hate crime, third-degree assault, second-degree aggravated harassment, menacing and first-degree harassment, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
"The bigotry and hatred that the defendant is accused of manifesting and acting upon have no place in a civilized society — especially in Queens County, the most culturally diverse county in the nation," Brown said in a statement.
Delta spokesman Brian Kruse called the incident ‘totally unacceptable’ and are cooperating with the investigation.
Rhodes could face four years in prison if convicted.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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