Muslim Woman Thanks Monrovia Officers That Stopped Her

(Left to Right) Sergeant Yolanda Juarez, Esma Ali, and Officer Ian Vanderburg. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News

By Susan Motander

Esma Ali is a Muslim woman who was stopped by Monrovia Police officers earlier this month after the police had received calls regarding a woman, matching her description, reportedly breaking into cars or stealing mail. Last week the exclusive first person report of her experience appeared in Monrovia Weekly.

Rather than getting upset at the police and threatening a lawsuit, Ali called a press conference to thank the officers involved and the police department for their handling of the situation. She then expressed her appreciation to Officer Ian Vanderburg and Sergeant Yolanda Juarez who had responded to the call as well as praising Police Chief Alan Sanvictores for his leadership.

She and Salam Al-Marayati, of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, described the situation. Ali said that at the time she was taken off guard by the situation and was very upset. She said she would have been upset with anyone in front of her. She said she wanted to call the press conference to thank the police officers for “dealing with the situation with dignity and professionalism.”

She also explained why she wore the hijab, the traditional headscarf worn by some Muslim women. “I have been a Muslim all my life, but I didn’t always wear a hijab,” she said. She went on to explain why she chooses to wear the head covering: “It is a sign of modesty in front of men.”

She said that as a woman in the business world, she had noticed the men with whom she worked judged the women around them by their appearance, not their work product. She said she chose at that time to begin wearing the hijab so that those around her would not focus on her appearance.

She explained that her mother had long suggested she wear the hijab, but, as Esma said, “We don’t always listen to our mothers. Now, I know that God was right (regarding wearing the hijab) and even mother is right sometimes.”

Al-Marayati joined her in praising the officers and the department saying “a lot is based on misunderstanding.” He called for more education and understanding. “We are united against hate … Monrovia PD, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the Muslim Council…” He also thanked Sanvictores for his leadership and concluded by saying that it was time to “take the opportunity to build on this.”

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