Los Angeles Police Investigate Vandalism at Islamic Center as Hate Crime
The incident occurred on Saturday, May 10, at the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC), located on South Vermont Avenue. Surveillance footage shows a man spray-painting graffiti across various parts of the property, including a wall, a tree, and a fence, FOX 11 reported on Friday.
The markings included the word “God,” a Star of David, and references to multiple Japanese companies. A spokesperson for the mosque said the symbols appeared to reference the ongoing war in Gaza.
“It transforms it from being a symbol of faith, goodness [and] righteousness… and what we felt when we saw it, [was] that ‘We’re coming for you. We’re coming for this mosque,’” said community leader Omar Ricci, as quoted in the original statement.
Read More:
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has confirmed that it is reviewing the symbolism in the graffiti and treating the case as a possible hate crime. Police Chief Jim McDonnell noted that the investigation remains active as authorities work to interpret the messages and determine intent.
In a statement, the ICSC described the act as “reflecting a broader climate of hostility affecting houses of worship across the nation.”
The mosque, a long-standing institution in the community, has previously been targeted—most recently in April 2023—when anti-Muslim messages were spray-painted on its exterior. It is unclear if arrests were made in that case.
Read More:
“This hateful act of vandalism is not just an attack on a house of faith, it is an assault on the values of diversity and tolerance,” said Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Los Angeles. “Hate and bigotry, against any group regardless of faith or background, cannot go unchecked.”
Los Angeles County reported a sharp increase in hate crimes in 2023, with a nearly 50% rise compared to the previous year.
Source: Agencies
