(LOS ANGELES, CA – 11/28/2023) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned an alleged hate crime against a group of Palestine supporters in Laguna Beach, Calif. on Nov. 26, and called for an investigation into claims that Laguna Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers used excessive force against the victims of the hate crime.
In a video posted to Instagram, one of the Palestine supporters stated that she, her fiancé, and her sister-in-law were confronted by a man who said he was Israeli. The group was on their way to a vigil for the over 14,000 Palestinian civilians who were killed by Israel’s violent and ongoing attacks on Gaza.
SEE:
- Video: Woman Reports Harassment During Vigil For Palestinians Killed By Israel
- Video: Police Arrest Pro-Palestinian Man
The assailant reportedly tried to step on the head of the woman’s dog and attempted to knock her sister-in-law’s phone out of her hand. The woman claims her fiancé stepped in to defend them when three police officers tackled her and her fiancé to the ground. She describes being thrown into the street, where her head hit a car, and her fiancé was put in a chokehold and eventually arrested. She reports the police refused to follow and apprehend the Israeli man as they claimed they had not seen the initial confrontation.
An update on Nov. 27 from the Instagram account reportedly belonging to the woman and her fiancé states that her fiancé was released from jail and that the Israeli man who assaulted them has been arrested.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Managing Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq. said:
“While we are encouraged by a recent update, which indicates that one of the victims has been released and that the hate crime perpetrator was arrested, we continue to have concerns for the safety of our community members. The Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities are still reeling from the violent shooting of three Palestinian students in Vermont just days ago and the murder of Palestinian six-year-old Wadea al-Fayoume just weeks before that.
“We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the dehumanization of these vulnerable communities, which only emboldens bigots and domestic terrorists to commit criminal acts that are fueled by hate. And we certainly won’t excuse any body of law enforcement that targets our vulnerable members when it should protect them.”
CAIR-LA calls for the LBPD to launch a thorough and immediate investigation into the alleged hate crime and allegations of unlawful police conduct and excessive use of force during arrest.
If you or someone you know are the victim of a hate crime or incident, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights department at (714) 776-1177 orclick here.
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 oreelkadi@cair.com
