SAN FRANCISCO—A man was arrested and accused of vandalizing a church with antisemitic and homophobic graffiti in San Francisco Saturday, the police department said.
Police said officers responded to a report of antisemitic and homophobic graffiti on a church on the 2800 block of California Street at around 8:45 a.m.
Responding officers found the church buildings and city utilities graffitied with swastikas and other antisemitic and homophobic words, according to authorities. They added the damages exceeded $20,000.
The police department said 51-year-old Sadat Mousa was identified as the suspect, and he was arrested and booked in the San Francisco County jail on suspicion of felony vandalism with a hate crime enhancement.
The name "Sadat" is a common Arabic given name (meaning "master" or "lord" in Arabic), and "Mousa" is the Arabic form of Moses (Musa in Arabic).
"This kind of hateful act will never be tolerated in our city," SFPD Chief Derrick Lew said. "We will do everything in our power to protect our communities and ensure justice is served in this case. I want to thank our officers who acted swiftly to make an arrest in this case."
The Seventh-day Adventist denomination generally holds conservative views regarding LGBTQ issues. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ rights organization, the church condemns same-sex relationships and practices. It does not ordain openly LGBTQ clergy, although some left-wing publications in the church would like to see it happen.
The San Francisco Central SDA church does not appear to be an LGBTQ-affirming church.
The police department reported this is an ongoing investigation, and asked anyone with information to contact them at 1-415-575-4444 or Text-A-Tip to TIP411 and begin your message with "SFPD."
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