The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is grateful to federal authorities for thoroughly investigating and charging the suspect in the fire at a Victoria mosque with a hate crime. The fire destroyed the Victoria Islamic Center in January.
Marq Vincent Perez has been charged with a hate crime, damage to a religious property and use of a fire to commit a federal felony in connection with the arson at the mosque.
“We appreciate the hard work federal authorities have done in this case,” said ADL Regional Director Dayan Gross, who stood in solidarity with the mosque’s Imam and congregants at a vigil for the congregation shortly after the fire. “At ADL, we’ve noticed a substantial increase in hate incidents since the end of last year, including an increase in Anti-Muslim hatred. We recognize that hate aimed at one of us affects all of us, and we are grateful to federal authorities for taking this crime seriously and considering it a hate crime.”
Among the Anti-Muslim incidents ADL’s Southwest Region has recorded in recent months in addition to the Victoria mosque fire:
- Anti-Muslim mail sent to Muslim schools
- Anti-Muslim posts in social media
- Anti-Muslim fliers left on the doorsteps of homes in Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties
- A woman and her son verbally accosted walking down the street by someone who told them “ISIS is not wanted here. Go back home.”
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. We encourage anyone who is the target of hate or has witnessed a hate incident to report it to ADL at 713-627-3490.
For more information or to set up an interview, call Dena Marks at 832-567-8843.