(LOS ANGELES, CA – 2/1/2023) – The Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the hate crime charge brought against a suspect accused of vandalizing a mural celebrating Latina women in Costa Mesa, Calif., with white supremacist tags and symbols.
SEE: Man charged with hate crime, suspected of defacing Latina mural in Costa Mesa with graffiti
The suspect defaced the “Poderosas” mural with racist phrases and symbols, including “White Power,” “737,” and “PEN1,” which refer to a white supremacist group located in California.
The 27-year-old Dana Point man was arrested on Monday, Jan. 30, by the Costa Mesa Police Department at the Harbor Justice Center after he appeared for an unrelated case. He is facing one felony charge of vandalism with a felony enhancement of a hate crime.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Deputy Executive Director Masih Fouladi said:
“We welcome the hate crime charge against the suspect. We hope that this sends a strong message to white supremacists and other bigots that hate has no home in California.
“Immigrant communities are pivotal to the Greater Los Angeles area and our nation as a whole; any type of hatred toward them is unacceptable and must not be tolerated.
“We thank the Costa Mesa Police Department for taking swift action in holding the suspect accountable for his alleged actions. 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, and Middle Eastern descent, CAIR-LA launched the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying to address these incidents more proactively.
SEE: CAIR-LA Condemns White Supremacist Vandalism of Mural Honoring Latina Women in Costa Mesa
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