Hayward man convicted of hate crime and robbery during Gaza protests in El Cerrito

A The Hayward man was convicted last week of a hate crime and robbery during a January protest in El Cerrito, prosecutors said.

Christopher Khamis Victor Husary, 36, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to one count of robbery and one count of hate crime enhancement for his actions during a demonstration related to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

During the protest and counter-protest, Husary used violence and intimidation to unlawfully take the national flag of Israel from a woman and burn it.

Husary was sentenced to 364 days in county jail and two years of probation. His sentence is scheduled to begin on January 2nd.

After Husary left the Martinez courthouse on Wednesday, New York police officers waited to arrest him for allegedly molesting a Jewish subway passenger on June 10 while he was out on bail in the El Cerrito case, prosecutors said.

“Everyone has the right to express their beliefs under the First Amendment, and we deeply appreciate those who courageously stood up for their rights despite the defendant’s attempts to silence them,” said Diana Becton, District Attorney of Contra Costa County, in a statement. “As I said when this case was filed earlier this year, the First Amendment does not protect people who threaten others, cause injury, intimidate, or damage property. And when harmful actions are motivated by bias against a person’s race, gender, religion or national origin, it is a hate crime.”