Man caught on video vandalizing Sikh Temple
LOS FELIZ, CA (FOX 11) - Hollywood police are investigating hate messages written on the side of a Sikh Temple on the corner of North Vermont and Finley Avenue. A man from New York was visiting a friend on Thursday when he saw the man writing long incoherent messages with a black maker on the pristine white wall of the temple and started recording him with his cell phone. He then uploaded the video to Facebook and received thousands of comments.
Karna Ray was particularly disturbed by one of three separate passage calling for the "nuking" of Sikhs.
He says he followed the man down the sidewalk when the situation turned dangerous, "After about a block, he threatened to slit my throat and showed me the weapon that he had, which seemed like it was a 4 or 5 inch straight razor at which point my video cuts out. But there were other witnesses around and I felt like if I kept my distance he would not do anything."
He says he called the police and they took a report. He also says that someone on Facebook recognized the man and his name has been given to the authorities. But the hateful messages still have many at the temple concerned for their safety.
Sarab Gill a volunteer at the temple says he has faced racism himself and that many times Sikhs are mistaken for Muslims because their similar religious head ware, clothing and beards, even though they are two distinct religions.
He says if only the man new more he might not feel such animosity, "We would invite him even now, we don't have any hatred for him, we would live to invite him here, come in pay your respects, we will serve you food and I'm pretty sure you will walk out with a really good experience.
Police say the investigation is continuing and no additional information on the suspect or possible charges was provided.
Copyright 2017 FOX 11 Los Angeles : Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube . Be a citizen journalist for FOX 11 and get paid - download the Fresco News App today.