Speaker says Market Street assault is being treated as a hate crime

At a Town Meeting TV forum, Megan Emery said a woman wearing a hijab was physically assaulted on Market Street around noon in July and that "the police responded and it is being dealt with as a hate crime." She described the incident as one of two recent hostile episodes in South Burlington she addressed to illustrate the consequences of hateful rhetoric.

Emery said the assault was captured on a friend's cell phone and reiterated that violent acts motivated by identity should be treated seriously. She called on residents and officials to publicly condemn such acts and to provide support for victims while pursuing appropriate legal responses.