Anyone reading or watching the news these days knows about the global turmoil involving an anti-Islam film. Muslims all over the world are incensed and the most radical are responding violently. There have been many attacks against embassies and consulates in the past week. Anger is rising from every side and the violence continues.
Harrisonburg, VA did not escape the hate. On Friday the Islamic Center in Harrisonburg was vandalized with graffiti. Friends of the local Muslims acted quickly to organize a community gathering to show support for our neighbors and demonstrate. Thanks to social media, the news spread quickly and momentum gained for this afternoon’s gathering.
Yesterday a private Christian school near Harrisonburg was attacked with the same type of vandalism. I don’t know if anyone knows if the two acts were connected, but they seem to be. This school was also incorporated into the community gathering.
So today a whole lot of people gathered at the Islamic Center of Shenandoah Valley. I’m no expert in number estimating, but it was a lot! There were many hundreds and I wouldn’t argue if someone told me it was over 1000. We filled the sizable mosque. There were folding chairs filling their meeting room and I joined hundreds in their smaller (yet still large) prayer room.
The event was fairly simple. It was mostly for s simple display of communal support, but there were a series of speakers who shared for several minutes each: the mosque leader, the Christian school board chair, a former Eastern Mennonite University president, a Harrisonburg City Council member, and a national Islamic rights advocate.
We listened, talked, met people from various schools, religions, organization. While we were there the county sheriff’s department sandblasted away the graffiti. It was a truly inspiring event! I’m pleased so many people in Harrisonburg respond to hateful acts in constructive, communal ways. I’m glad we don’t let differences separate us and bridge gaps to celebrate our common humanity.
