59-Year-Old Woman Who Attacked 2 Teens Wearing Hijab In Hate Crime, Arrested

A 59-year-old New Jersey woman was involved in a bias-fueled attack during which she allegedly told two Muslim teenagers to go back to their country.

The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday that Nancy Jones of Clifton was arrested on a slew of charges for allegedly harassing the teenagers in a nail salon on April 30. A press release said that last month, members of the Clifton Police Department responded to the area of Lakeview Avenue and East 9th Street after getting a report of an assault. When they arrived, they met with a 13- year-old juvenile and a 15-year-old juvenile. They said that while they were in a nail salon when a woman approached them in a harassing and tumultuous manner. The woman told them to go back to their country.

Prosecutors said that both the victims were wearing hijabs at the time of the incident, reported New York Post. According to authorities, Jones also struck the 13-year-old in the head during the confrontation.

NBC New York reported that a warrant was issued for Jones' arrest once she was identified as the suspect and then she surrendered to authorities Wednesday afternoon.

The alleged attack was condemned by the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ). They also shared more details related to the incident. CAIR-NJ said that Jones shouted at the two teens for staring at her while they waited to get their nails done. The elderly woman allegedly shouted profanities at them, and told them, “to go back to their (expletive) country you two little punks,” and that “they do not belong here.” When the teenagers' mother came to the salon and saw them crying, she confronted Jones in the parking lot. She was cursed out by Jones.

CAIR Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said in a statement that they were "deeply troubled by this alleged bias-motivated behavior." He added physically and verbally attacking the two teens to the "point of tears is appalling,” He shared that they welcome the "ongoing police investigation by Clifton officers and hope the matter is taken seriously and justice is done.”

Jones, who is facing several charges including fourth-degree bias intimidation, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, was released on conditions. As for the charges, they have been referred to a grand jury.