Los Angeles, CA, May 8, 2007 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today applauded the City Attorney's office for bringing charges against the individual suspected of defacing Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss's San Fernando Valley office.  The office was defaced with swastikas and anti-Semitic writings.

Such hate has no place here in Los Angeles and runs counter to our city's values of acceptance and respect for differences.

"Hate crimes send a message to an entire community that they are not safe.  Crimes such as this don't merely deface one building, they degrade our entire community," said Amanda Susskind, ADL Los Angeles Regional Director.  "We applaud the City of Los Angeles leadership for its swift and clear response."

The most recent Hate Crimes Report released by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations for 2005 shows that Jews continue to be the most frequently targeted religious group, now accounting for 81% of religious-based hate crimes.  This report is consistent with the California Attorney General's report for 2005 that also shows Jews accounting for nearly 69% of all religion-motivated hate crimes in the state.

ADL's 2006 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents showed that anti-Semitic hate crimes and incidents continue to be a serious problem locally and nationwide.

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.