A Fort Lauderdale man has admitted to a hate crime assault on a Muslim postal worker. Kenneth Pinkney, 47, entered a guilty plea after targeting the woman because of her religion and her job as a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.
On a day shadowed by international conflict, just two days after a Hamas attack on Israel, Pinkney encountered the hijab-wearing postal worker on her delivery route. Court records reveal on October 9, 2023, the victim felt Pinkney's aggressive gaze from the roadside as she drove her USPS vehicle. This encounter would precipitate a later one, marred by violence and bigotry.
During the follow-up incident on October 24, the victim was delivering mail when Pinkney, arriving on a bicycle, began to harass her. Mimicking a gun with his hand, Pinkney hurled insults and xenophobic taunts at her, telling her to "go back to your country." His intimidation escalated as he spat on the USPS truck and her person, before attempting to physically remove the woman from her vehicle and forcefully yank off her hijab. The assault left the USPS worker with scratches on her face and the profound trauma of hate-fueled violence.
The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that "Pinkney succeeded in removing the hijab and revealing the victim’s hair." The struggle between Pinkney and the victim continued outside the vehicle, with Pinkney, ripping her uniform and accusing her of terrorism before fleeing the scene. Pinkney was later apprehended and will face sentencing before U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman, on a date yet to be determined.
