Graves Vandalized with Racist Graffiti at Controversial Site
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 11/12/11) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Los Angeles chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP-LA) today urged Americans to demand that the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) stop desecration of Muslim graves by halting construction of its controversial “Museum of Tolerance” over the historic Mamilla cemetery in Jerusalem.
In the latest string of incidents, 15 graves were found vandalized with graffiti “death to the Arabs” and “price tag” at the gravesite. Earlier, 84 archeologists from around the world urged SWC to stop building over the Muslim cemetery. In a letter, the archeologists stated that the project involved “surreptitious and unscientific removal of hundreds of human burials,” in violation of international and Israeli laws.
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Photo Credit: Al Aqsa Foundation |
Israeli museum not so tolerant, group of archaeologists say (LA Times)
“The Torah teaches us to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. I don’t understand how a Jewish organization, the “Museum of Tolerance” could advance the destruction of the Mamilla cemetery, considering the pain the destruction of Jewish cemeteries has caused so many in years past,” said Estee Chandler, organizer for Jewish Voice for Peace, Los Angeles.
“Desecrating graves – whether Muslim, Jewish or Christian – is not only incredibly abhorrent but also must be repudiated by all people of conscience in the strongest manner possible,” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. “Instead of wrongfully insisting on building on the ancient Mamilla cemetery, the Wiesenthal Center must do the right thing by halting construction of the ‘Museum of Tolerance’ and work toward reconciliation between members of the Muslim and Jewish communities.”
TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION:
1. Contact Rabbi Marvin Hier at the Wiesenthal Center and demand that the Center stop building over the Mamilla cemetery.
Phone: 310-553-9036
800-900-9036 (toll-free from within the U.S.)
E-mail: dmones@wiesenthal.net; avra@wiesenthal.com (Avra Shapiro,
Director of Public Relations); information@wiesenthal.net
2. Ask your family and friends to do the same.
3. Use social media to spread the word.
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