An apparent hate crime committed last week at the UCLA Medical
Center did not go unanswered by the surrounding community.
Representatives from the university, government agencies and
various organizations spoke at a press conference Friday to express
their solidarity and determination to apprehend the perpetrators of
the act.
The press conference was held by the Muslim Public Affairs
Council and attracted multiple television news crews and a crowd of
interested observers in the Medical Center courtyard.
The incident in question took place April 19 when an unknown
individual poured a liquid labeled “pork blood” on
Muslim prayer rugs in the Medical Center’s interfaith
chapel.
The incident is being investigated as a hate crime and has
involved the combined efforts the University of California Police
Department, the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI.
LAPD Assistant Chief of Police Karl Ross said investigators are
currently gathering information from hospital staff and area
businesses.
He said hospital security and police patrols have been increased
since the incident took place.
According to Scott Millington of the Los Angeles District
Attorney’s Office, the penalties imposed for hate crimes can
be stiffer than those for simple vandalism.
Dr. Michael Karpf, director of the Medical Center, affirmed the
hospital’s tolerance of ethnic and religious groups.
“This is a great medical center because of its commitment
to diversity,” he said.
The Rev. Sandra Yarlott, director of the Medical Center’s
Spiritual Care Department, shared excepts from e-mails condemning
the incident and offering support to the hospital and Muslim
community.
She said she was determined to continue meeting the spiritual
needs of the Medical Center and its patrons.
“This hate act does not and will not keep us from
praying,” Yarlott said.
Representatives from a wide variety of organizations expressed
their support for the Muslim community in the wake of the
incident.
Spokespeople from the Progressive Jewish Alliance, the South
Asian Network and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center were among those
who offered support.
Salam al Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public
Affairs Council, said the incident created a sense of
solidarity.
“When you target one of us, you target all of us,”
he said.
During the press conference, he offered Yarlott a new Muslim
prayer rug as a “symbol of peace.”