Unveil Mural Celebrating the Muslim Community at the Islamic Center of Southern California
LA vs Hate joined faith leaders, elected officials, artists, and community members at the Islamic Center of Southern California to celebrate the unveiling of a new mural titled “Sabr at Fajr”, created by Palestinian-American artist Saj Issa. The event, hosted by LA vs Hate in partnership with MPAC, CAIR-LA, is part of LA vs Hate’s Signs of Solidarity campaign. Launched in April, Signs of Solidarity is a grassroots initiative aimed at countering rising hate, hostility, and discrimination by distributing community signage—such as yard signs, posters, and murals—to foster a shared neighborhood identity rooted in inclusion and respect for diversity.
The mural’s title, which means “Patience at Dawn,” depicts a symbolic Sabr (cactus) plant taking root in an ethereal landscape that evokes both Los Angeles and the Middle East, echoing the strength and identity of the Muslim community in LA County. Developed through months of community engagement and MuralColors Artist Residency Program, the placement of the mural could not have come at a better time. In May, the Islamic Center was defaced with hate-motivated graffiti—an attack that galvanized the community and spurred renewed efforts to combat hate in all its forms.
Leaders, including Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District; LA County Commission on Human Relations Executive Director Robin Toma; Deputy LA City Mayor Jacqueline Hamilton; MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati; CAIR-LA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Dina Chehata; and Dr. Nasser Karam, Board Chair of the Islamic Center of Southern California, stood together in solidarity. The community unveiling also featured live music, food, children’s art activities, and the distribution of Signs of Solidarity posters and yard signs that attendees took home to visibly signal their commitment to inclusion.
“Through art and outreach, our community has made it resoundingly clear that love, resilience, and unity will prevail over the act of hate that happened at this sacred place of worship,” said Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Second District. “This mural embodies the spirit of LA County’s Signs of Solidarity campaign, which is about reclaiming space, amplifying community voices, and making visible our shared values of inclusion and belonging. We are standing together to show that hate has no home in LA County.”
“The unveiling of ‘Sabr at Fajr’ is a powerful reminder of our community’s resilience in the face of hate,” said Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor. “At a time when acts of hate seek to divide us, this mural stands as a vivid symbol of hope, healing, and unity. I’m proud to stand with LA vs Hate, the Islamic Center of Southern California, and all those working to ensure Los Angeles County remains a place where diversity is not only welcomed but celebrated.”
“This mural is not just a response to hate—it’s a vision for what solidarity looks like,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. “We know that public art has the power to heal and to inspire, especially when it is rooted in community voice. Through the Signs of Solidarity campaign, we’re creating visible reminders across the county that hate will not divide us—and that unity, respect and inclusion are values we will stand for every day.”
"This mural affirms the vital role the Muslim community plays in the fabric of Los Angeles—woven into its communities, culture, and civic life,” said Salam Al-Marayati, President, Muslim Public Affairs Council. “In the face of hate and division, we respond with dignity, expression, and a shared commitment to justice and to benefit humanity.”
“This imagery serves as a reminder that we are never truly alone, so long as we remain steadfast in our faith,” said Saj Issa, who created the mural. “It also speaks to the beauty of endurance and the shared human story of finding belonging after hardship.”
“Over the last 21 months, the American Muslim community and our allies have faced an increase in Islamophobic, xenophobic, and racist hate here at home while watching a U.S.-funded genocide against our communities abroad happen in real-time,” said Dina Chehata, Civil Rights Managing Attorney for CAIR-LA. “But in a time of growing hostility, we gather today not in fear, but in faith and resolve. This mural is more than art on a wall: it is a declaration of presence, belonging, and enduring. It is a statement that we will not be erased; that when our communities are targeted and our mosques defaced, we will not meet hate with silence, but with unity, solidarity, and strength.”
Founded in 1953, the Islamic Center of Southern California serves as a spiritual and cultural anchor for Muslims in Los Angeles and beyond. With a mission rooted in faith, inclusion, and civic engagement, the Center promotes a balanced understanding of Islam and encourages collaboration with interfaith and community partners to build a more compassionate and just society.
The mural unveiling is part of LA vs Hate’s growing Signs of Solidarity campaign, which aims to combat the sharp rise in hate crimes by reclaiming public space with messages of inclusion. The 2023 Hate Crime Report revealed a 45% increase in hate crimes across LA County, prompting a strategic expansion of efforts to foster visibility, connection, and collective resistance to hate. The campaign has already launched in Westlake, San Pedro, Pico-Robertson, and Koreatown; Signs of Solidarity will launch in Hollywood, Florence, Culver City, Santa Monica, Burbank, and Antelope Valley next.
In addition to murals, Signs of Solidarity includes countywide distribution of yard signs, posters, and public art installations—each designed in collaboration with local artists and organizations—to encourage visible community solidarity, empower residents to show that hate is not welcome in their neighborhoods, and to remind them of free confidential support by reporting to LAvsHate.org/211.. On August 3, LA vs Hate will reveal another new mural in South LA by artist Kenneth Webb located at the Upendo House.
Signs of Solidarity builds on the success of LA vs Hate’s 2023 Summer of Solidarity mural program by expanding its vision for community-driven public art as a tool for healing and resistance. While Summer of Solidarity brought murals to all five county districts to celebrate LA’s diverse communities, Signs of Solidarity takes that work further—pairing public art with grassroots outreach in areas most impacted by hate. These projects are shaped by community input and reflect the unique identities of each neighborhood, reinforcing LA vs Hate’s belief that visible, local expressions of unity are essential to shifting culture, reclaiming space, and building long-term community resilience.
