After the deadliest attack on Jews in United States history took place in Pittsburgh on Saturday where 11 people were killed, the Muslim-American community raised more than $120,000 in two days in a crowdfunding campaign for the victims and their families. The initial goal of $25,000 was reached within six hours of the campaign’s launch.
The Muslim-American community announced the achievement at the interfaith prayer service on Sunday at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh where Wasi Mohamed, the executive director of the center, said, “We’re not going [to] stop.”
“We just want to know what you need. If it’s more money, let us know,” Mohamed said. “If it’s people outside your next service protecting you, let us know. We’ll be there. If you need anything at all, if you need food for the families, if you just need someone to come to the grocery store because you don’t feel safe in this city, we’ll be there.”
Leader of Islamic Center of Pittsburgh announces Muslim community has raised more than $70,000 for synagogue attack victims and their families.
“We just want to know what you need … If it’s people outside your next service protecting you, let us know. We’ll be there.” pic.twitter.com/D2UyNzBFHx
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 29, 2018
The hate crime took place at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday when an anti-Semitic gunman shot 11 people who were worshiping inside. Since the shooting, “an enormous outpouring of interfaith solidarity” has rallied behind the victims and grieving families, Common Dreams reported. The campaign has raised $186,000 to date surpassing its goal of $150,000 with just seven days left.
“The Muslim-American community extends its hands to help the shooting victims, whether it is the injured victims or the Jewish families who have lost loved ones,” the campaign site stated, which was organized by CelebrateMercy and MPower Change. “We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action.”
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