(CLEVELAND, OHIO, 1/11/2017) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) today called on area political and religious leaders to condemn anti-Arab and neo-Nazi vandalism of a Sylvania Township home.

On Tuesday, a local Arab-American Muslim family came home to find the words “F-ck Arabs” and a large Nazi swastika painted on the garage door of their home. Sylvania Township police are said to be investigating the incident.

SEE: Sylvania Township Family Finds Racist Graffiti on Garage

In a statement, CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson said:

“We call on state and local religious and political leaders – including the Township Administrator – to condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms in order to reassure all diverse communities that hate-motivated attacks and vandalism are not welcome in our state or community.

“We call on those community leaders to come together to host events that build bridges of understanding, mutual respect and tolerance in order to counter such hateful acts.

“We call on local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to thoroughly investigate this incident in order to identify and apprehend the alleged perpetrators.”

CAIR’s national office has noted a spike in incidents targeting American Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8 presidential election.

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: www.cair.com/report

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and