(ANAHEIM, CA – 12/14/2018) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned an apparently race-motivated attack on a man at a restaurant in Ontario, a city in San Bernardino County.
According to KTLA/5, the incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when the victim, identified as “Jose,” was ordering lunch at the Waba Grill off Mountain Avenue. Video showed Jose walking away from the register when another man walked directly into him, knocking Jose to the ground.
In an interview, Jose, 44, said his assailant stood over him and said, “Watch out, you f—ing Mexican.”
Video showed the man re-engage with Jose as the victim stood up.
READ: Assailant Hurled Racist Remark at Man in Ontario Restaurant, Victim Says; Video Shows the Sudden Attack
According to KTLA/5, Ontario police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
“We condemn this apparently racially-motivated attack and applaud the Ontario police for investigating this as a possible hate crime,” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. “Californians of all backgrounds must stand together in the face of growing hatred and division in our state and nation. Additionally, perpetrators of hate crimes need to be charged and prosecuted as such to send a message that this type of behavior is not acceptable in our society.”
Ayloush urged community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at 714-776-1177 or by filing a report at: https://bit.ly/2L9Ezsw.
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