PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago Welcomes Hate Crime Conviction of Lombard Man Who Threatened to Shoot Two Muslim Men
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
(CHICAGO, IL, 2/19/26) — The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the hate crime conviction of a suburban man who threatened to shoot two Muslim men in Lombard.
The defendant, Larry York, was convicted on felony hate crime charges in Oct. 2023 after approaching two Muslim men in separate incidents, directing anti-Muslim slurs at them, telling one to “go back to your country,” striking a vehicle window, and threatening to call others to come and shoot them because of their faith.
CAIR-Chicago applauds prosecutors and law enforcement, including the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and Lombard Police Department, for taking this Islamophobic hate crime seriously and ensuring accountability. Hate-motivated threats of violence are not protected speech—they are crimes that terrorize entire communities.
In a statement, CAIR-Chicago said:
“This conviction sends a clear message that targeting individuals because they are Muslim will NOT be tolerated in Illinois,” said Hafsa Haider, Communications Director of CAIR-Chicago.
“Lombard is home to a vibrant and growing Muslim community that contributes greatly to the cultural richness of the area. In the months following October 7, 2023, we’ve seen a sharp and sustained rise in anti-Muslim hate nationwide, including this threat in Lombard and, tragically, the deadly hate crime murder of beloved six-year-old Wadee AlFayoumi in nearby Plainfield. These threats are not just empty words. When hateful rhetoric is normalized, it fuels real-world violence — sometimes with deadly consequences. Holding perpetrators accountable is essential to protecting our communities.”
CAIR-Chicago continues to document a troubling rise in anti-Muslim bias incidents in Illinois and nationwide, including harassment, threats, and acts of violence. We urge anyone who experiences or witnesses a hate incident to report it to local authorities and to CAIR-Chicago at www.cairchicago.org/report-discrimination.
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; Hafsa Haider, Communications Director of CAIR-Chicago, 561-317-7509, hhaider@cair.com