A Louisville mosque painted with anti-Muslim graffiti has led to something amazing – an entire community rallying to support those of the Muslim faith. People from various religions and even atheists along with politicians gathered at the Islamic Center in Louisville, Kentucky to help repaint and to denounce the criminal act.
The Louisville mosque, which was vandalized with racist and despicable graffiti, is being cleaned up by a loving community composed of Jews, Christians, Buddhists and everyday people, who are determined to show the criminals they are united.
On Wednesday night, Muslim leaders, who arrived at the Louisville mosque to open the doors for worshipers to come in to pray, were shocked and saddened by what they discovered. The front walls of the Islamic Center were covered with anti-Muslim phrases like “this is for France,” in reference to the Charlie Hebdo attack that left 12 people dead, “Nazis speak Arabic” and other racist drawings.
The following day, after calling the authorities, including the FBI, Islamic Center spokesman Muhammad Babar held a press conference where he explained:
“Whoever did this, we will pray for him, and we have forgiven him. And if that person is meaning to send us a message to leave, America is our country and our adopted homeland. … We’re not going anywhere.”
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, who was also present at the gathering, called on the community to come together and repair the damages caused to the center. Fischer said:
“An act like this here last night is an affront to everyone in our community. It is not just an act against one faith, the Muslim faith. It’s an act against Buddhists, Christians, Jews — all faiths. An act like this will not be tolerated in our community. Certainly from a moral standpoint, but also from a legal standpoint.”
Over 1000 people answered present including 100 Jews, who have a habit of collaborating with Babar to collect funds for countries devastated by natural disasters. Matt Goldberg, director of the Louisville Jewish Community Relations Council, said at the press conference:
“This will bring us closer together. So my message is to the perpetrator: We win and you lose.”
According to the Louisville Police Chief, Steve Conrad, the FBI is investigating the incident as a hate crime. Many have taken to social media to salute and applaud the people of Louisville and to remind Donald Trump that his hateful rethoric is not what Americans want to hear, the say.
Islamic Center vandalism called 'punch in gut' http://t.co/ARq2m7E1sR pic.twitter.com/827LnoQ6Bg
— Louisville KY (@LouisvilleKYrr) September 18, 2015
.@louisvillemayor says vandalism at Louisville Islamic Center is a "punch in the gut." http://t.co/yaO8wWHo38 pic.twitter.com/oHLvwsENkj
— Phillip M. Bailey (@phillipmbailey) September 17, 2015
Here's a look at the back of the Islamic Center in Louisville, the target of vandalism on Wednesday @WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/VeAt76SQ9M
— Julia Rose (@WHAS11Julia) September 17, 2015
