(LOS ANGELES, CA – 11/2/2022) – The Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the alarming use of white supremacist tags and symbols on a mural celebrating prominent Latina women in Costa Mesa, Calif.
On Tuesday, Nov. 1, white supremacists covered the “Poderosas” mural with hateful statements, including “White Power,” “737,” and “PEN1,” which are symbols representing a white supremacist group in California. The suspect was spotted by neighbors and captured on camera defacing the wall with white spray paint.
The artist was commissioned to paint murals of “poderosas,” or strong women, on walls in Orange County as part of an effort to heal intergenerational trauma within the Latin community through storytelling.
SEE: Costa Mesa mural honoring “Poderosas” defaced by vandal with white extremist messages
In a statement, CAIR-LA Deputy Executive Director Masih Fouladi said:
“We strongly condemn this brazen display of white supremacy. The fact that the suspect defaced the murals in broad daylight demonstrates the extent that racists and bigots will go to publicly display their intolerance of people of various backgrounds and beliefs.
“Immigrant communities are pivotal to the Greater Los Angeles area and our nation as a whole; any type of hatred towards them is unacceptable and must not be tolerated.
“We thank the Costa Mesa Police Department for taking swift action and investigating the incident as a hate crime. We stand in solidarity with the Latin community as they continue to face increased hate and discrimination.”
As a result of the increase in hate and bullying targeting people of African, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, immigrant, Middle Eastern descent, CAIR-LA launched the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying to address these incidents more proactively.
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 Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com