Laguna Woods Mayor Carol Moore has condemned a woman seen wearing a swastika armband who is facing possible hate crime charges in a conflict with multiple people earlier this month.

Moore’s statement came on Friday after public appeals from Rabbi Peter Levi, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, to city officials to denounce the 51-year-old woman. Orange County sheriff’s deputies have recommended that prosecutors file a hate crime and other charges against her.

Just before 4 p.m. on March 7, the woman, whose name was not released, was walking past a Laguna Woods clubhouse wearing the Nazi symbol on her arm when an 81-year-old man confronted her, said Jaimee Blashaw of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

#Antisemitism has no place in #LagunaWoods and City leadership should stand up and agree. A statement from ADL Orange County/Long Beach: pic.twitter.com/nkULE8YMRC

— ADL Southern California (@ADLSoCal) March 25, 2022

The woman responded with antisemitic slurs as the two argued, Blashaw said. The woman was accused of threatening the man, according to Blashaw.

Another man, who was riding by on a bicycle, joined the argument and removed the armband, Blashaw said. A 77-year-old man was also involved in the dispute and saw what happened, she added.

Levi said he reached out to Moore the week after the conflict.

“One of the more important ways to fight against hate is to have our civic and elected leaders call it out and that’s what I put in a request for — you have to call this out for what it is,” Levi said.

“It is an antisemitic expression that sends a message to the Jewish individuals as well as other marginalized groups in the community that they don’t belong there,” he said, “and by not saying anything it becomes tacit approval.”

Moore said the city wanted to let the sheriff’s investigation proceed before commenting.

“The city of Laguna Woods stands firmly against antisemitism, bigotry and hate in all its forms, fully and without exception,” Moore said in the statement Friday. “The conduct alleged in the disturbance is abhorrent, inexcusable, and antithetical to the character and values of our community.

“We condemn the alleged conduct and any hateful behavior,” Moore said. “Thank you to Mr. Levi for speaking out.”

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