(LOS ANGELES, CA – 10/18/2018) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned Nazi graffiti found on the side of a church in Pasadena on Tuesday night.
READ: Police Investigating Hate Crime at Local Church
http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/police-investigating-hate-crime-at-local-church/#.W8kk5GhKhPY
According to Pasadena Now, police responded to a report of a 5-foot-tall red swastika that had been spray painted on the side of Lincoln Avenue Christian Church.
“We condemn this display of racism. This hatred has no place in our society and especially not at a place of worship. We urge law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice and commend authorities for investigating this as a 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.”
CAIR and the American Muslim community have in the past expressed solidarity with Jewish, Christian, Native American, African-American and Sikh communities nationwide following acts of hate, threats, violence, vandalism, arson or bombings.
“We will continue to stand up and defend our fellow community members in the face of xenophobia and bigotry,” Ayloush said.
CAIR California (CAIR-CA) found that there was a marked rise in anti-Muslim bias incidents in California in 2017, as detailed in its Civil Rights Report. CAIR-CA recorded an 8 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2017 compared to 2016.
READ: 2018 CAIR-CA Civil Rights Report
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 the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Eugene W. Fields, 714-776-1847 or efields@cair.com