Tempe This Week March 23, 2026

The crescent moon celebrating the Ramadan holiday was completely destroyed last week. Tempe Police are actively investigating this crime. A student group had designed and built the 15-foot-tall religious symbol to shine a light on the holiday for the entire community. It stood on A Mountain, just like religious symbols of other faiths have in the past.

There is no place in our community for this kind of hate. People of all faiths are welcome in Tempe and they have the right to both feel and be safe. Tempe Police are continuing to provide additional patrols near places of worship this holiday season and city leaders will continue to have conversations with faith leaders of all religions to maintain peace and safety throughout Tempe.

Hate is unacceptable in Tempe. It's more than just a statement. We have resources to help those who have experienced hate and hate crimes and an easy method to report hate crimes. You aren't alone.