Police investigating hate-filled letter sent to South Bay Islamic center
Still image from EIC YouTube page.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (BCN/KTVU) - An Islamic center in San Jose received a letter with hate language, police said today.
Officers were dispatched to the Evergreen Islamic Center on Ruby Avenue at 7:10 p.m. Thursday on report of suspicious circumstances surrounding the letter.
The San Jose Police Department's assault unit, which investigates hate-motivated crimes, is conducting the follow up investigation. Police did not disclose any other details.
The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for an increase in police protection of mosques after what was called an "anti-Muslim, hate-filled letter supporting President-elect Donald Trump" was sent to the Islamic center.
According to CAIR the letter was addressed to the "Children of Satan". They said it continued to call Muslims a "vile and filthy people" calling on them to "pack your bags and get out of dodge."
The letter also claimed President-elect Trump would cleanse America and "make it shine again", according to CAIR.
“We urge local law enforcement authorities to work with Muslim community leaders to ensure the safety of all houses of worship,” said CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo in a statement.. “Our state’s political and religious leaders need to speak out against the mainstreaming of Islamophobia that we are witnessing in California and nationwide.”
CAIR says there's been a spike in documented incidents targeting Muslim-Americans and other minority groups since the November 8 election.