September 23, 2007 We, the undersigned, are shocked and appalled by the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety intimidation tactics and its shocking order to shutter a congregation during prayer services on Yom Kippur; the holiest day of the Jewish faith. This was NOT an issue of safety of the congregants or the community. This was an attempt by the City of Los Angeles to silence those that choose to pray on the holiest day of the Jewish year. We call upon the Department of Justice Civil Rights Criminal Section to investigate this blatant abuse of power by the City of Los Angeles and trampling on the constitutionally protected rights of its citizens. We further call upon all civic minded citizens to call their elected representatives (Local, State and Federal) to protest this shocking action.