Interfaith leaders show solidarity with SF Muslim community following mosque vandalism

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — In San Francisco, the Muslim community and interfaith leaders are speaking out about the arrest of a man who is accused of vandalizing a mosque and harassing members during the holy month of Ramadan. Interfaith leaders turned out to show solidarity with the Muslim community Friday afternoon, days after a man smashed the windows of a Nob Hill mosque and harassed members.

Surveillance video captured it all.

The San Francisco Police Department said the man seen in the video is 35-year-old Robert Gray. He has since been arrested.

Police say Gray visited the mosque multiple times during the holy month of Ramadan.

“We will drive by mosques and places of worship. We will continue to be present but the trust is so important because we want to help people, we want to respond rapidly and we want to help people,” said SFPD Assistant Chief David Lazar.

“We take hate crimes very seriously here,” said Monifa Willis, chief of staff at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. “We truly believe it is every San Franciscan’s right to have a safe place to worship. Sacred places of worship should never be disrespected or violated.”

The mosque’s board members say there have been other acts of vandalism during the holiday month and hope the arrest of perpetrator in this case will send a message.

“We hope the city’s actions today will show the city is serious in taking action against people who hate against Muslims and any other race religion,” said a member of the community KRON spoke to.

“We have been really hurt and damaged by all the stuff that has been going on and so to see the San Francisco police and to see the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office step up the way that they have to show that the Muslim community is as heard and as seen as other community members of San Francisco,” said Hala Hijazi of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

Gray remains in custody and is facing six years in state prison if convicted of all charges and the hate crime allegation.