(LOS ANGELES, CA – 12/16/2019) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today expressed solidarity with the Jewish community after an act of vandalism incident targeting a synagogue in Beverly Hills early Saturday morning.
According to NBC4 News, surveillance cameras at Nessah Synagogue showed a man who overturned furniture, threw materials around and damaged religious relics.
READ: Vandalism at synagogue in Beverly Hills, California, investigated as possible hate crime
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“Anti-Semitism and xenophobia in any form are unacceptable. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and against the actions of bigots who violate our nation’s long-standing principles of religious tolerance and inclusion. This is the continuation of the pattern we have been witnessing of bigots being emboldened in their speech as well as their actions. These actions include acts of hatred and harassment at houses of worship. As we have stated many times, an attack on any house of worship is an attack on all houses of worship.”
In a statement, Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch said:
“This cowardly attack hits at the heart of who we are as a community. It is not just an attack on the Jewish Community of Beverly Hills; it’s an attack on all of us. The entire City stands in solidarity behind Nessah, its members and congregants.”
Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
“We commend the actions of the Beverly Hills Police Department for investigating this incident as a hate crime and look forward to the swift apprehension of the suspect,” Ayloush said.
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 Manager Eugene W. Fields, 714-776-1847 or efields@cair.com