Memorial service for Wadee Alfayoumi, one year after a six-year-old Palestinian boy was murdered in a suspected hate crime

CHICAGO (CBS) – A community came together Monday night to remember a 6-year-old boy from Plainfield stabbed to death in a suspected hate crime a year ago.

Prayers filled the Chicago Muslim Community Center at a memorial for Wadee Alfayoumi, who was stabbed to death last October.

Prosecutors said Wadee’s landlord did it killed him and stabbed his mother because they were Palestinians. Joseph Czuba, 71, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault, as well as two counts of murder Hate crimes.

Wadee’s father spoke at the prayer service for his son. An interpreter said he thanked everyone who stood by him and his family.

“He’s really grateful that everyone here remembers it. “He takes all the comfort he can get from knowing that his son didn’t die in vain,” he said. “He also mentioned that the fact that his son will not be forgotten, whether fat or thin, means to him that in the end the victory is ours.”

CAIR Chicago is working on a memorial exhibit honoring Wadee in Plainfield.

President Joe Biden also marked the anniversary of Wadee’s death.

He said, among other things: “There is no place for hatred in America, including hatred of Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims. No one, regardless of background, in this country should be made to feel unsafe in America.”