Milwaukee women charged with hate crime for attack on women in hijab at park

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two Milwaukee women are facing hate crime charges after cellphone video provided to CBS 58 showed two women grabbing and punching a different group of women. Those victims told CBS 58 they believed they were targeted because of their appearance.

According to a criminal complaint, on July 30, the female victims -- who are Muslim -- were sitting at a picnic table at Cathedral Square Park and wearing hijabs, a head covering worn in public by Muslim women.

The complaint says two other women, accompanied by approximately 10 children, were also in the park at a nearby picnic table. 

One victim told investigators she heard one of the women say, "We're Black aggressive women, and we're going to defend our own kind." 

The victims said, at that point, the two women approached their picnic table and asked if they had a problem.

"I said, 'there is no problem between us, what is the problem?' Like, I truly don't know, you know?" one of the victims said. "And she goes, 'where are you from?' And I told her it was none of her business because she clearly wasn't trying to have a conversation about where I'm truly from."

The victim said, at that point, one of the women put her in a headlock and started punching her in the head. She said the other woman began punching her sister-in-law in the back of the head and neck.

Cellphone video captured the attack and it was obtained by CBS 58. In it, two women are seen attacking the women in hijab. The clip showed one of the aggressors throwing multiple punches; one of those punches appeared to land cleanly on a victim's head.

Investigators say after 2-5 minutes of the victims being hit, an older man came and broke up the fight. 

Police arrived to the scene quickly, where witnesses pointed out the alleged aggressors, who were walking away from the park with the group of children. Two women, identified as 34-year-old Miracle Reed and 30-year-old Payton Smith, were arrested. 

According to a criminal complaint, during an interview with Reed, she allegedly denied attacking the victims and claimed she didn't remember the incident. During a second interview, Reed reportedly admitted she was in the video obtained by CBS 58 but denied hitting the victims.

Authorities interviewed Smith, who allegedly admitted to hitting two victims twice each and admitted she was in the video shared on CBS 58. 

Miracle Reed is charged with the following: 

• Substantial battery, hate crime
• Disorderly conduct, hate crime
• Bail jumping

Payton Smith is charged with the following: 

• Misdemeanor battery, hate crime (two counts) 
• Disorderly conduct, hate crime

In court on Friday, Aug. 4, both Reed and Smith pleaded not guilty.

A judge set bond for Reed at $10,000, and Smith $2,000.

A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 14.