The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the antisemitic vandalism targeting a community mural at the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center.
SEE: Mural at Pasadena synagogue vandalized with antisemitic graffiti
On Friday, July 24, the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center announced on social media that a mural erected at the site of its synagogue, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire in January 2025, had been defaced with swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti. The mural had been created in response to a previous act of antisemitism.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident as a hate-motivated act of vandalism.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“An attack on the Jewish community and its right to safety is an attack on all of us. Defacing a mural that symbolizes healing and resilience after devastating loss is an act of hatred that seeks to spread fear and deepen pain. Bigotry exploiting political events should be unequivocally condemned and rejected. Blaming and harassing Jewish community members for the actions of the Israeli government is antisemitic, immoral, and ignorant.
“We stand in solidarity with the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center and the broader Jewish community as they recover from this hateful act. Those responsible must be identified and held accountable, and we urge anyone with information to cooperate with law enforcement. We remain committed to working alongside our Jewish neighbors to confront antisemitism and all forms of hate.”
CAIR-LA welcomed the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s prompt investigation into the incident and echoed calls by community leaders for those responsible to be brought to justice.
To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 (ext. 2) or click here to file a report.
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 Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com
