JACL Stands in Solidarity with the Muslim Community in the Wake of the Shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego
May 21, 2026
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Matthew Weisbly, Education Programs/Communications Manager, mweisbly@jacl.org
Seia Watanabe, VP of Public Affairs, swatanabe@jacl.org
JACL Policy Team, Matthew Marumoto & Katie Masano Hill
Email: policy@jacl.org
On May 18th, 2026, two gunmen attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three people. Among those killed were Amin Abdullah, a security guard for the center and father of eight; Mansour Kaziha, a former security guard, store manager, and handyman for the center; and Nadir Awad, a teacher and dedicated community member who lived across the street from the center. Abdullah, Kaziha, and Awad are all credited for confronting the attackers and drawing their fire away from the building. Their heroic acts saved the lives of countless children and staff at the center, at the cost of their own lives. We send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and all those impacted by this act of terror. The JACL condemns this reprehensible act of hatred, and we reaffirm our commitment to stand with the Muslim community.
Anti-muslim and Islamophobic sentiments have once again risen in light of the military conflict in Iran. For months, elected officials and other public figures have spread false and harmful rhetoric, claiming those who practice Islam or who hail from the Middle East are enemies of the state or foreign threats living among us. The annual Civil Rights Report from the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) found that in 2025, there were 8,683 reports of discrimination, the highest number since CAIR began collecting this data in 1996. As members of the Japanese American and Japanese immigrant community, we know firsthand the devastating consequences of wartime hysteria and attacks rooted in faith and identity. This dangerous cycle of scapegoating and dehumanization must come to an end.
“Nine years ago, the Islamic School of San Diego reached out to the San Diego JACL. The middle school students had just read Farewell to Manzanar, and they wanted us to come speak to the kids about our own experiences with racism, wartime hysteria, and failures of political leadership. What moved us that day was how much our communities understood one another: stories of immigrants treated as perpetual outsiders, enduring moments when hatred and fear threatened to define us. That is why Monday’s attack feels so personal to Japanese Americans here in San Diego. We are heartbroken by the loss of innocent life and stand in solidarity with our Muslim neighbors, friends, and colleagues as they grieve, heal, and continue to show resilience in the face of unchecked hatred.” - Michael Kurima, Co-President of the San Diego Japanese American Citizens League
We ask our community to support the victims of this atrocity by donating to the ICSD Victim & Family Support Fund if they are able. We also call on not only our members but also our broader AANHPI community and partners to support Muslim communities in their local areas. All of our communities have known or continue to know fear, harassment, violence, and uncertainty at different points in our history in this nation. Let us continue to stand together to fight hate and injustice, wherever it may be.
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The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.
