Letters To California Mosques Praise Donald Trump, Promise Genocide

Religious leaders in California are calling for a police investigation after identical letters were sent to local mosques hailing President-elect Donald Trump and calling for death to Muslims.

The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a statement asking for increased protection after the hate-filled letters were discovered at the Islamic centers of Long Beach and Claremont as well as a mosque in San Jose.

The handwritten and photocopied letters, received over the course of the week, were signed by “Americans for a Better Way.” They call Muslims “a vile and filthy people” who “worship the devil” and evoke Trump.

“There's a new sheriff in town - President Donald Trump. He's going to cleanse America and make it shine again. And, he's going to start with you Muslims,” the letters read. “He's going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews.”

CAIR leaders in San Francisco and Los Angeles didn't initially want to bring the letters into the public spotlight to avoid copycats, but they acknowledged the need for police intervention once the diatribe was sent to a number of jurisdictions across the state, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“We urge local law enforcement authorities to work with Muslim community leaders to ensure the safety of all houses of worship,” CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said in a statement. “Our state's political and religious leaders need to speak out against the mainstreaming of Islamophobia that we are witnessing in California and nationwide.”

Though Trump has said he isn't aware of campaigns across the country to intimidate and hurt Muslims since his victory, the problem is rampant.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has tracked more than 700 acts of this kind of bias intimidation and harassment targeting Muslims, blacks, Latinos, immigrants and LGBTQ people since Election Day, though not every incident has been independently verified. The Huffington Post's Christopher Mathias has identified at least 13 incidents in which Muslims have been attacked, harassed or threatened in Trump's name.

San Jose police are reportedly investigating the letters. It wasn't immediately clear whether police departments across the state would ramp up security in response to CAIR's statement.

CAIR urges Muslim community members to report any incidents to police and to the organization's civil rights department by calling 202-742-6420 or by filing a report online.

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Introducing Compliments

Sometimes, 5 stars just isn't enough.

That's why riders often leave notes in the app letting their driver know what he or she did to make their journey that much more enjoyable. Sometimes the small thingsㄧlike playing the perfect song at the right time or lending a hand with a heavy piece of luggageㄧcan make a big difference. We want to make sure that message gets through.

Starting this week, we're making it easier for riders to thank drivers for the things they doㄧbig and smallㄧto make the ride memorable. When a rider leaves a complimentㄧsay for expertly navigating winding city streets or striking up a conversation that brightened their moodㄧa notification will show up on the driver's home screen letting them know what they did to make a rider's day.

It is Thanksgiving week after all-a time to be, well, thankful. We want to give riders the opportunity to thank and recognize drivers for the things they do to make the experience more memorable and fun. It's a small step we're taking to make saying thank you easier for riders and to celebrate drivers like Vickie, Alejandro and Habtamu who go the extra mile in their own special ways.

Because sometimes the little things make all the difference, and 5 stars doesn't quite cut it. We get that, and while we know there's always more we can do to improve the driving experience, we figured what better time than now to make it easier to say “thank you” to the drivers who help us get from A to B every day.

Featured Tonight: Family History for Family Holidays

Thursday, November 17, 2016

5:45 p.m.

Margaret Troke Library

502 West Benjamin Holt Drive, Stockton

Working Family History At Your Family Gatherings

Kim von Aspern-Parker

The holiday season is upon us! Dinners, parties, special gatherings will likely feature one constant: these are all events which will include family members. What a perfect opportunity to encourage interest in your family history research.

This month, we are pleased to  welcome Kim von Aspern-Parker back to Stockton as our guest speaker. A Sacramento area genealogist, Kim is a graduate of University of Nevada at Reno with a bachelor in journalism and public relations. Kim  speaks, teaches, coaches, and blogs about genealogy-and has done so for more than twenty five years, providing private genealogical investigation services out of her Sacramento office. In addition to this month's topic, Kim specializes in research in both California and Louisiana, where she often conducts  research trips.

Join us in welcoming Kim von Aspern-Parker back to Stockton at our meeting tonight, Thursday, November 17, at the Margaret Troke Library in north Stockton. As always, plan on coming early to enjoy some refreshments and a social time with fellow Society members. Also, feel free to invite a friend to attend the meeting with you-the more, the merrier!

Manhunt Ends For Suspect In 'Execution' Of California Deputy

A search for a man suspected of killing a California deputy at close range Sunday morning has ended after an hourslong manhunt, authorities announced.

David Machado, 36, was taken into custody in Tulare County, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office announced on social media around 1 p.m. local time.

We have confirmed David Machado is in custody. We will advise the media when we will hold a press conference here at the Sheriff's Office.

- Stanislaus Sheriff (@StanSheriff) November 13, 2016

Stanislaus Deputy Dennis Wallace, 53, was responding to a call about a suspicious car and person around 8:30 a.m. when he was shot twice in the head, Sheriff Adam Christianson had said at an earlier press conference.

The 20-year veteran of the sheriff's department had just enough time to request backup after finding the suspect's stolen vehicle before he was killed, Christianson said.

“Within seconds he was murdered, he was executed,” the sheriff said of the brazen attack in Hughson's Fox Grove Park, about 95 miles northeast of San Jose. “We know for a fact that the gun used was in direct contact with his head when the trigger was pulled, twice. This was an execution.”

Christianson described Machado as a known criminal. After fleeing the scene, Machado carjacked someone in the community of Keyes, making off with a white 2009 Kia Rio.

“He was wanted for a felony warrant for felony-related criminal activity and of course he was in a stolen vehicle,” the sheriff said.

Wallace was known for his work in the DARE drug and violence prevention program, and leaves behind a wife and family, Christianson said.

“Dennis had a very special relationship with young people, and a special place in our hearts at the sheriff's office,” he said.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.