(LOS ANGELES, CA – 12/1/2021) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned a white supremacist banner put up on a freeway overpass in Irvine, Calif., featuring Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and other, equally vile forms of bigoted messaging.
The large cloth banner, which hung above the 405 at Jeffrey Road, referred to Jews as a “virus” with “white replacement,” communism, critical race theory, and the Black Lives Matter movement listed as the “symptoms.” It also mentioned that “Mayor Khan’s mosque agrees,” making a false connection between anti-Semitism and Mayor Khan’s Islamic faith.
SEE: ‘No place in Irvine’ for hate, Mayor Khan says after second anti-Semitic banner incident
In addition, a video on social media shows two men hurling anti-Semitic, sexist and ableist insults at a man who attempted to remove the banner.
As a result of the increase in hate and bullying targeting people of faith as well as those of African, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, immigrant, and Middle Eastern descent, CAIR-LA recently launched the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying (CPHB) to address these incidents more proactively.
In a statement, Interim Director of CPHB Masih Fouladi said:
“Anti-Semitism and bigotry in any form are unacceptable. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, Mayor Farrah Khan, and all targeted minorities in condemning the actions of bigots who violate our nation’s long-standing principles of religious tolerance and inclusion.
“The continued trend of normalizing hate speech has emboldened bigots in their rhetoric, as well as their actions. We will continue to stand with marginalized communities against hatred. Hate will not prevail.”
He also stated that the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy and all other forms of bigotry.
To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 or click here to file a report.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Social & Digital Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 776-1847 or eelkadi@cair.com