Supporters rally for West Hartford vandalism suspect facing hate crime charge

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The suspect in a West Hartford vandalism case faced a judge in Hartford Superior Court Thursday morning.

Hicham Talal, 24, is accused of splashing red paint on a nearby bank after roughly 150 people participated in a pro-Palestinian rally at the West Hartford Town Hall on Jan. 21.

Supporters rallied outside Hartford court Thursday for a man they say did nothing more than take part in another rally. They’re demanding the state drop the charges.

Islamic scholar Imam Zaid Shakir said Talal was charged with for “walking down the street voicing his protest.”

“No evidence or proof that he did anything other than that,” Shakir said.

The January rally ended with the nearby bank covered in fliers and red paint. Protestors said the bank does business with an Israeli company that makes military drones.

It was about five weeks later Talal was identified by police as a suspect in the case. He’s a student who lives in West Haven and wants to be a doctor.

Talal is facing two charges. One is criminal mischief, which is common in a vandalism case.

The other is very uncommon. It is “intimidation based on bigotry or bias” and it is technically a hate crime.

“The use, by the state, of hate crime charges against (Talal) suggests an improper political motivation that immorally conflates legitimate criticism of Israel war with antisemitism,” retired attorney John Fussell said at Thursday’s rally.

Around 40 protestors gathered outside court to call for the charges to be dropped, and claiming the hate crime is politically motivated.

“It’s particularly disturbing to see the misuse of hate crime laws against those of us criticizing Israel’s killing of more than 30,000 Palestinians,” said Sarah White of the Hartford Jewish Organizing Collective.

Talal did not speak during the court hearing. His lawyer said he is confident the court will support his right to protest.

Supporters believe the charges have just one purpose.

“To chill and silence the voice of the people,” Shakir said. “(Talal) has committed no crime. Dissent is not a crime.”