Worship site in Bayonne, NJ marred by anti-Muslim graffiti citing 'Donald Trump'

Muslims arriving for prayer this morning at their place of worship -- the basement of a local Catholic school -- were met with anti-Muslim graffiti on the windows and walls outside the building.

But among predictable profanities such as "F--- Muslims," "F--- Allah," and "F--- Arabs!", something else was spray painted on the wall: "Donald Trump."

Waheed Akbar, a spokesman of the Bayonne Muslim community, said the Republican presidential nominee's rhetoric during this campaign season likely encourages the vandalism.

"He's gone to places that no other presidential candidate has gone. He's exploiting people's fears," Akbar said.

An email to Trump's campaign this afternoon about the use of his name in the anti-Muslim graffiti -- and about Akbar's remarks -- was not immediately returned.

For years, the Muslim community has rented out the basement of the closed St. Henry's School at 27th Street and Avenue C and used it as a temporary place of worship.

The community is hoping to convert a warehouse at 109 E. 24th St. into a permanent community center that would include, among other things, a mosque, classrooms and a soup kitchen. The city zoning board has not yet approved that plan.

At a protest of the plan outside of City Hall earlier this year, at least one protester held a sign reading "Trump."

Bayonne woman says man threatened her for displaying 'Stop the mosque' sign

Bayonne woman says man threatened her for displaying 'Stop the mosque' sign

A 75-year-old city woman is saying she was threatened by a stranger at her home for displaying signs reading "Save Bayonne" and "Stop the Mosque" in her windows.

[link to www.nj.com]