The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) today welcomed the jail time handed out to a Richmond, California, man who was sentenced Friday for violation of civil rights, making death threats against Muslims, and building a pipe bomb.
In December of last year, 55-year old William Celli of was found yelling “I’m going to kill you all” in front of the Islamic Society of Contra Costa. Once mosque members alerted the police, they launched an investigation, discovering that he had posted photos of what appeared to be pipe bomb on his Facebook profile.
Celli is a self-proclaimed supporter of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, as he has commonly posted statements of support on his Facebook profile, saying he would follow Trump “to the end of the world.” He will be serving 90 days in custody and three years on probation.
BACKGROUNDER: CAIR Questions Release of California Man Who Threatened, Plotted to Bomb Muslims
“We welcome the jail time handed out in this case and are appreciative of the cooperation and support from law enforcement and the district attorney’s office shown to the local Muslim community,” said CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo. “At a time when attacks on mosques and Muslim individuals are at an all-time high, this will send a message that such actions will have consequences.”
The incident involving Celli occurred in the wake of hateful rhetoric by multiple presidential candidates and during a peak in Islamophobic hate crimes following the Paris terror attacks and the San Bernardino shootings.
VIDEO: CAIR Welcomes Arrest of California Man Who Planned to Bomb Muslims
CAIR Reports Unprecedented Backlash Against American Muslims After Paris Attacks
The mosque, like many others in the Bay Area, has taken further measures for security and protection, hiring more private guards for the protection of their constituents.