Latest news with #Mosaed
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Muslim-owned Berkeley business vandalized, community rallies behind it
BERKELEY, Calif. (KRON) – An East Bay community is coming together to show support for a Muslim-owned business that was vandalized over the weekend. Dozens of people turned out for a vigil on Monday night. Pictures shared with KRON4 show Saturday's vandalism at Negeene Mosaed's health clinic, Berkeley Community Physical Therapy. Pro-Palestine posters were scratched out with black ink, and Islamophobic language was painted on the wall. Mosaed is Iranian-American and says her business was attacked because of her stance on the Gaza-Israel conflict and her cultural background. Suspects strike officers, drive wrong way in East Bay chase 'And this time we were on high alert,' she said. 'And I was definite in my mind that this was a hate crime directed against Palestinians and Middle Eastern people and of course the othering of justifying a genocide, its called the Palestine exception.' On Monday night, an anti-hate vigil was held in South Berkeley. 'Someone doesn't just randomly vandalize a store out of the blue. It's because of a dehumanization of a group of people that has been taking so long,' said a man named Hesham. Hesham is from Syria and says he knows all too well about racism. He says the vigil was a chance for Palestinian and Arab voices to speak out against hate. 'It's unfortunate that the event took place. It gives me hope that a lot of people have shown up, and I just hope that more people continue to show up for these causes and are able to make that connection,' Hesham said. Later in the evening, the City of Berkeley's Peace and Justice Commission held a meeting. Last year, the commission passed a ceasefire resolution. Mosaed and community members like Matt O'Brien are asking the Berkeley City Council to do the same. Mosaed hopes that Berkeley's new mayor and council members hear their message and put a ceasefire resolution on the city's next agenda. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
04-03-2025
- CBS News
Vigil against hate held in Berkeley after anti-Muslim graffiti at business
Pro-Palestinian activists held a vigil against hate Monday evening after a Berkeley business was vandalized with anti-Muslim graffiti over the weekend. City officials says Berkeley Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime. It happened Saturday morning at Berkeley Community Physical Therapy. On Monday, owner Negeen Mosaed was still trying to clean up. "The gold paint is still kinda there because it was really hard to get off," said Mosaed, pointing to the front door. The paint on the door said "F- Islam". Mosaed is an Iranian American and a Muslim. The vandalism happened on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. "I called the police and as soon as the police got here they said, 'This is a hate crime,'" said Mosaed. But she said this isn't the first time her business has been targeted. It's the fourth in about a year. During the prior incidents, pro-Palestine ceasefire posters were targeted. "It was this poster that was in this window right here, and it was scratched out with black spray paint," she said, holding a poster that says "ceasefire" on it with a drawing of a crying child. "I called police and reported this vandalism, and I said I think it's a hate crime, and they didn't think it was a hate crime." Mosaed said this is the first time police are considering one of the incidents a hate crime. City Council member for the district, Igor Tregub, is also getting involved. "Hate is not a Berkeley value," said Tregub. He wants to see the person responsible held accountable. "We'll absolutely be doing everything that is in my power to see to it that the perpetrator who did this is found and brought to justice," said Trebug. Still, Mosaed wants to see the city do even more to denounce hate. She said being a Muslim in America, she's experienced hate in the past, and this continuing to happen is becoming distressing. "This incident makes me remember that because it's a passed trauma that I lived through and there is a lot of discrimination and hate in our society," said Mosaed. The other three incidents happened between March and June of 2024. Mosaed is trying to remain hopeful that this will be the last time her business is targeted.
