NEW YORK — A Massachusetts man who authorities say assaulted a Muslim airline employee at New York's Kennedy Airport is facing hate crime charges.
The Queens District Attorney's Office says 57-year-old Robin Rhodes, of Worcester, was waiting for a flight to Massachusetts Wednesday night when he approached Delta employee Rabeeya Khan, who wears a hijab, while she was sitting in her office.
Prosecutors say Rhodes asked Khan if she was praying. He then punched the door and kicked her leg. Khan fled and prosecutors say Rhodes followed her, got to his knees as if he was praying, cursed Islam and shouted "Trump is here now. He will get rid of you."
“I am somewhat disappointed and somewhat surprised, also,” Muhammad Ramzan from the Worcester Islamic Center said.
Rhodes has been charged with assault, unlawful imprisonment, menacing and harassment as hate crimes. It's unclear if he has an attorney who can comment.
Well-known in Worcester, Rhodes often makes donations to political candidates. Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karen Polito both tell FOX25 through an adviser they will be returning the money he gave to them.
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