(LOS ANGELES, CA – 6/28/2019) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned an alleged hate crime by a suspect at a church in the San Fernando Valley.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a man interrupted a religious service in the Devonshire area and flashed Nazi salutes on June 9. The suspect is being sought for hate crime trespassing and disturbing a religious meeting, police said.
He was described as a 6-foot-1 white male between 20 and 30 years old with black hair and brown eyes. He weighed between 180 and 220 pounds and was last seen wearing a black skull cap, a black hooded sweatshirt, a red T-shirt, blue jeans and Converse sneakers.
READ: Suspect Sought For Disrupting SFV Church Service With Nazi Salute
https://patch.com/california/northridge/suspect-sought-disrupting-sfv-church-service-nazi-salute
In a statement Thursday on Twitter, the LAPD said:
“Hate has no place in Los Angeles. On Sunday, June 9 the suspect disrupted a religious service, performing Nazi salutes, causing the religious service to stop. We need your help to identify & arrest him for Hate Crime/Trespassing. Any info contact LAPD Major Crimes (213) 486-7290.”
CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“Anti-Semitism, xenophobia and bigotry or any other forms of hate are unacceptable. We continue to stand in solidarity with the Christian, Jewish and interfaith community and all minorities targeted by bigots who violate our nation’s long-standing principles of religious tolerance and inclusion.
“The current trend of normalizing hate speech has emboldened bigots across the country. We commend the actions of the LAPD for investigating this incident as a hate crime and look forward to the apprehension of the suspect.”
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Forrest Lee, 714-776-1847 or flee@cair.com