(ANAHEIM, CA, 1/7/2019) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today expressed solidarity with the Jewish community after anti-Semitic graffiti was found on a sign at a Ventura synagogue Friday.
Police received a vandalism complaint about 3 p.m. Friday from the Temple Bath Torah, where a Nazi swastika had been spray painted on a sign in front of the temple. Ventura police did not know when the vandalism occurred. The agency is actively investigating the incident as a hate crime.
SEE: Swastika Spray-Painted at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura Prompts Investigation: Police
Irvine Synagogue Vandalized; Police Investigating as a Hate Crime
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/10/31/jewish-temple-in-irvine-vandalized-tuesday-night/
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and continue to defy the senseless actions of bigots who violate our country’s long-standing principles of religious tolerance and inclusion. Hatred and harassment at houses of worship remains a serious problem. As we have stated many times, an attack on any house of worship is an attack on all our houses of worship. We continue to stand and defend our fellow community members in the face of xenophobia and bigotry.”
CAIR and the American Muslim community have in the past expressed solidarity with Jewish, Christian, Native American, African-American, and Sikh communities in New York, Indiana, New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Alabama, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and other states following acts of hate, threats, violence, vandalism, arson, or bombings.
SEE: CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Jewish Community After Deadly Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack
https://www.cair.com/cair_expresses_solidarity_with_jewish_community_after_deadly_pittsburgh_synagogue_attack
CAIR Condemns Nazi Vandalism of Louisiana Synagogue
https://www.cair.com/cair_condemns_nazi_vandalism_of_louisiana_synagogue
The Washington-based civil rights organization is urging all houses of worship and faith-based and advocacy organizations to take extra security precautions as outlined in its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet. The advice in CAIR’s security publication is applicable to all institutions, regardless of organizational mission.
The booklet may be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/BestSafetyPractices
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