CAIR-Chicago welcomes hate crime charges over threats to Muslim women at Des Plaines park

CAIR-Chicago on Friday welcomed the filing of felony hate crime charges against a Des Plaines man accused of threatening to shoot three Muslim women wearing hijabs at Lake Park while shouting white supremacist slogans. According to Des Plaines police reports cited by the Journal & Topics, Matthew R. Kindle, 44, approached the women at the park on the 2200 block of South Lee Street on Sunday, Oct. 11, said they looked like Muslim 'monkeys' and 'ninjas' and told them to leave the country, then repeatedly reached into his waistband as if he had a weapon and gestured as if he would shoot, saying he would 'get them.' Kindle made explicit 'white power' remarks while being detained, police said, and children were among those present. The Journal & Topics reported three felony hate crime counts alongside misdemeanor charges, while CAIR-Chicago said the filing includes six felony hate crime counts and resisting a peace officer. 'No one should ever have to fear for their safety, let alone face threats of gun violence and white supremacist bigotry, while simply walking or spending time in a public community park,' said Ahmed Rehab, the chapter's executive director, who said CAIR-Chicago will monitor the case. State Rep. Justin Cochran called the incident 'sickening' and told residents in a statement: 'you belong here. That is your park, this is your city.' Kindle was charged with domestic battery in 2019, the Journal & Topics reported.