(LOS ANGELES, CA – 9/29/2023) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the neo-Nazi vandalism targeting a neighborhood in Ladera Heights, California.
On Thursday, residents woke to find symbols of hate, including Nazi swastikas, spray-painted and carved on several cars, leaving some of them with thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating this incident as a hate crime.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“Everyone deserves the right to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. We stand in solidarity with the residents of Ladera Heights who have been targeted by these hateful acts. Such acts of bigotry and prejudice have no place in our diverse and vibrant communities.
“This incident reminds us that there is still much work to be done in educating our fellow citizens about the consequences of hate and intolerance. Hate crimes not only harm individuals and communities but also undermine the values of unity and diversity that make our nation strong.
“We thank the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department for their prompt response and look forward to justice being served.”
As a result of the increase in hate and bullying targeting people of faith as well as those of African, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, immigrant, and Middle Eastern descent, CAIR-LA launched the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying to address these incidents more proactively.
To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 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 Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or [email protected]