Muslim group seeks federal probe of California mayor’s remark about Christian community

Muslim group seeks probe of Calif. mayor’s remark

LANCASTER, Calif. — A Muslim group has filed a federal civil rights complaint after a Southern California mayor said his city was “growing a Christian community” in his state of the city address.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations says Mayor R. Rex Parris violated the civil rights of non-Christians last week during his address.

The says it sent the complaint letter to the Department of Justice on Friday.

The group says Parris shouldn’t have used his official capacity at the city event to advance a particular religion.

Parris has said he won’t apologize for the remark.

Lancaster is a desert bedroom community about 40 miles north of Los Angeles.