(SANTA CLARA, CA, 12/13/23) – The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today strongly condemned the vandalism of a menorah at Lake Merritt in Oakland.
The menorah, an important symbol of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, was destroyed and thrown into the water early this morning in an apparent act of hate.
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said:
“We are profoundly saddened and outraged by the vandalism of the Lake Merritt menorah. Such an act is not only an attack on the Jewish community but an affront to all who stand for religious freedom.
“The incident is indicative of a broader pattern of religiously motivated hate crimes. The rise in incidents targeting both the Jewish and Muslim communities calls for a collective response against all forms of bigotry. We stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors against anti-Semitism, just as we fight against Islamophobia. Hatred against one community is a threat to all.”
CAIR-SFBA reiterates its commitment to combating bigotry, racism, and hate in all its forms and encourages those experiencing acts of aggression, racism, and Islamophobia to contact its Civil Rights Department at 408.986.9874.
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Senior Communications Coordinator Lorrie Adam, ladam@cair.com, 408.986.9874