Overview

• A public ceremony on June 28, 2025, in Plainfield unveiled a permanent monument at Van Horn Woods East Playground to honor six-year-old Palestinian-American Wadee Alfayoumi.
• Alfayoumi and his mother were stabbed in October 2023 by their landlord Joseph Czuba, who prosecutors say called her a “devil Muslim” during the attack.
• In February 2025, a jury convicted Czuba of first-degree murder, attempted murder and hate crimes and a judge handed down a 53-year prison sentence in May.
• The Illinois Senate adopted the “Wadee Resolution” recognizing the killing as a hate crime and motivating calls for stronger protections against anti-Muslim violence.
• Community leaders, interfaith advocates and civil rights groups attended the dedication to honor Wadee’s memory and emphasize unity and accountability.