Animation of the night of the Victoria Islamic Center arson. [Credit: ATCV, LLC]
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Episode 1
Local News Coverage on the Case
Victoria Advocate: “Fire destroys mosque, cause undetermined“
Victoria Advocate: “Fire investigator: Mosque blaze no accident.“
KATV: “Texas mosque destroyed in early-morning blaze, cause unknown“
Texas Tribune: “Investigators: Fire that ravaged Victoria mosque was arson“
Victoria Advocate: “Marq Vincent Perez indicted in mosque case“
Victoria Advocate: “Synagogue vandalism gives insight into mosque arson“
Victoria Advocate: “Final temple vandal sentenced“
Related National News Coverage
New York Times: “Truck driver found guilty in deaths of 19 illegal immigrants in Texas in 2003“
BBC: “Trump’s executive order: Who does travel ban affect?“
New York Times: “Texas Mosque Gutted by Mysterious Blaze Raises More Than $900,000 to Rebuild“
Victoria County News, Facts and History
Victoria Advocate: “Election data identifies Victoria County voting trends“
Texas Monthly: “Below the Surface“
Business Insider: “The 20 biggest landowners in America“
Victoria Advocate: “Former mayoral candidate civic leader leaves Victoria”
Victoria Advocate: “Polasek takes gavel as Victoria mayor; 3rd-place finisher plans challenge“
Episode 2
News Coverage of the Case
Victoria Advocate: “Marq Vincent Perez Indicted in Mosque Case“
CNN / ABC13: “GoFundMe account raises more than $900K for Victoria mosque destroyed by fire“
Victoria Islamic Center Rebuilding: Actual GoFundMe
Victoria Advocate: “Mosque Arson anniversary brings questions of Faith, Unity“
Pastor Mike Hurt’s blog entry: “Blurred Lines, Confusing Prayers“
Further History of Victoria County
Herald Review: “The Mexican-American War: Land grab of the century?“
Library of Congress: “Land Loss in Trying Times“
The Trial: Transcripts and Evidence
“United States of America vs. Marq Vincent Perez courtroom recording” [Audio]
Trial Evidence: Government’s Exhibit 104: Marq Vincent Perez’s discharge paperwork
Interview Transcripts: Corroboration for Marq Vincent Perez’s mental state
Reporter Cassie Cameron’s corroborating comments Eric Camarillo makes about his family
Hate Crimes
Council on American Islamic Relations: CAIR 2017 Hate Crime Report
Pew Research: Rise in assaults against Muslims
Reuters: “U.S. anti-Muslim hate crimes rose 15 percent in 2017: advocacy group“
NPR: “In Big Win For White House, Supreme Court Upholds President Trump’s Travel Ban“
Episode 3
The Trial
Victoria Advocate: “Suspect in mosque arson fascinated by fire“
KAVU News transcript: Defense Opening Statements and Witnesses
Trial Transcript: Supports depiction of di Carlo
Southern District of Texas: Selected Cleared Trial Exhibits
Trial Transcript: Testimony that Marq Vincent Perez lied about his military service to Cavazos (a militia member)
Interview Transcripts: Filmmaker interviews with trial participants and witnesses
National News Coverage
New York Times: “Texas Man Found Guilty of Hate Crime in Mosque Fire“
PBS NewsHour: “Hate crime case ends with guilty verdict for man who set Texas mosque fire“
Victoria Advocate: “Update: Arsonist Marq Vincent Perez gets 24-year federal prison sentence“
U.S. Dept. of Justice: “Texas Man Sentenced to Almost 25 Years for Hate Crime in Burning Down Mosque in Victoria, Texas“
Victoria Advocate: “Former mayoral candidate civic leader leaves Victoria“
Further Information and Other Resources
World Population Review: “Recidivism Rates by State“
CASE DOCUMENT: United States v. Marq Perez Brief as Appellee
Pew Research (2017): Assaults against Muslims in U.S. surpass 2001 level
Pew Research (2019): Harassment of religious groups steady in 2017, remaining at 10-year high
Southern Poverty Law Center: 2017 Annual Report
Voice of America: “Hate Crimes Rise in 9 Major US Cities in 2017, Preliminary Data Show“