DALLAS — Zacharia Doar has a long road ahead as he recovers from a stabbing that Austin Police says meets the definition of a hate crime. Doar was in Austin on Sunday for a "Free Palestine" protest at the state capitol calling for a cease-fire.
Doar was in his truck with three friends after the protest when they stopped at a four-way stop sign. A man police identified as Bert James Baker, who was on a bicycle, confronted Doar and his friends in the truck. Doar tells WFAA that Baker likely saw the Palestinian scarf hanging on the truck and that made them a target.
"Until my door got ripped open and my leg pulled out," Zacharia recalled.
Doar tells WFAA the confrontation only lasted 45 seconds and it ended, police say, with Baker pulling out a knife and stabbing Doar in the back resulting in broken ribs.
"He knew what he was doing. He knew what his intentions were when he pulled out that knife," he said. "He swung it around...he wanted to kill," the 23-year-old said.
Zacharia's father, Nizar, also went to Sunday's protest but drove separately. He got the call while he was driving home to the DFW area. He refers to Baker as a 'hateful man' and also lays partial blame on the federal government and state leaders for not taking a stand during the Gaza conflict.
"I feel that our President failed us. He's not taking a stand for humanity," Nizar said.
Austin PD says the stabbing that occurred Sunday does meet the definition of a hate crime. Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations says hate crime cases are up since the conflict started.
"Ever since October 7th...everything has changed. Yes, my life has changed. No, I don't go running alone no more," said Zacharia's mother Odi Doar.
Zachariah has a broken rib and his recovery will take six to eight weeks.
Baker has been booked into the Travis County Jail. He faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. It will be up to the Travis County DA whether to add hate crime charges to that.