DOJ Reviews Vandalized Catholic School as Potential Hate Crime

Extensive damage discovered at Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach sparks federal investigation.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:55pm

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The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is reviewing whether vandalism at a Catholic school in Long Beach, California constitutes a hate crime, following extensive damage discovered at Holy Innocents Catholic School earlier this week. The incident included the destruction of religious property such as statues of the Virgin Mary and the tabernacle.

Why it matters

Advocacy groups have pointed to the Long Beach incident as part of a continuing pattern of vandalism directed at Catholic institutions across the country, with nearly 550 such attacks documented since 2020. The federal review highlights concerns about the targeting of religious sites and the potential for hate crimes.

The details

Local police described the incident as a burglary, but the extensive damage to religious property inside the school, including smashed statues of the Virgin Mary and a torn-out tabernacle, has led the DOJ Civil Rights Division to investigate whether it constitutes a hate crime. The school principal described the scene as 'desecration' of items central to the school's Catholic faith.

  • The vandalism was discovered on Monday morning, February 3, 2026.
  • Classes at Holy Innocents Catholic School resumed on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, with Mass held in the school gym and cleanup efforts underway.

The players

Harmeet Dhillon

Head of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, which is reviewing the incident at Holy Innocents Catholic School.

Cyril Cruz

Principal of Holy Innocents Catholic School, who described the scene of vandalism and desecration of religious property.

Holy Innocents Catholic School

A parochial school in Long Beach, California that serves close to 300 students in grades K-12, many from Hispanic and Filipino communities.

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What they’re saying

“A statue of the blessed mother which had been here since the school opened (in 1958) was desecrated and smashed. Another statue was beheaded in there.”

— Cyril Cruz, Principal, Holy Innocents Catholic School (Long Beach Post News)

“These are items of our faith.”

— Cyril Cruz, Principal, Holy Innocents Catholic School (Long Beach Post News)

What’s next

The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division will continue its review to determine if the vandalism at Holy Innocents Catholic School constitutes a hate crime.

The takeaway

The incident at Holy Innocents Catholic School highlights the ongoing concerns about the targeting of religious sites and the potential for hate crimes against Catholic institutions, which advocacy groups say have seen a troubling increase in recent years.