CORVALLIS (Oregon) - Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil on Tuesday in support of an Islamic centre targeted by an apparent hate crime, after a teen who worshipped there was arrested for planning mass killings in Portland.
Ms Elizabeth Oettinger, senior minister of the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, said a number of religious leaders organised the event in a show of support for the Muslim community after the centre's office was set on fire on Sunday.
The authorities are investigating whether the arson was a hate crime, after Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, was arrested last Friday on charges of trying to set off a car bomb at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Portland.
Mr Mohammad Siala, the centre's administrator, told the crowd: "With your support here tonight and standing by your side, we tell (the arsonists) that there is no place for prejudice towards anybody, regardless of the faith or race or nationality."
Pleasant, kind, and nutjob-resistant. You have done well.
2 comments:
It's nice to see such a profound example of the usual 'divide and conquer' strategy not working.
Yes, I definitely got a good feeling from this.
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