Flowers and cards sit at a makeshift memorial down the street from the site of the mass shooting that killed 11 people and wounded 6 at the Tree Of Life Synagogue on October 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
'We Wish to Respond to Evil With Good': Muslims Raise Over $120,000 in 48 Hours for Victims of Anti-Semitic Mass Shooting
"We're not gonna stop. We don't think our work is finished because that's a high number."
As part of an enormous outpouring of interfaith solidarity after an anti-Semitic gunman killed 11 people who were worshiping inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday--the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history--a Muslim-led crowdfunding campaign has raised over $120,000 in just 48 hours to help pay for the immediate needs of the wounded victims and grieving families.
"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."
--Wasi Mohamed, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
"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," reads the site of the campaign, 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."
Within just six hours of its launch on Saturday, the campaign had already far surpassed its initial goal of $25,000, and the donations continued to pour in.
As of this writing, the campaign is just $2,000 away from its updated goal of $125,000.
After announcing during an interfaith prayer service on Sunday that the Muslim-American community has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support the victims of Saturday's hate-driven massacre, Wasi Mohamed--executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh--said, "We're not gonna stop."
"We don't think our work is finished because that's a high number," Mohamed said. "We just want to know what you need. If it's more money, let us know. 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," Mohamed concluded. "And I'm sure everybody in the room would say the same thing."
Watch Mohamed's speech:
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
As part of an enormous outpouring of interfaith solidarity after an anti-Semitic gunman killed 11 people who were worshiping inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday--the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history--a Muslim-led crowdfunding campaign has raised over $120,000 in just 48 hours to help pay for the immediate needs of the wounded victims and grieving families.
"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."
--Wasi Mohamed, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
"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," reads the site of the campaign, 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."
Within just six hours of its launch on Saturday, the campaign had already far surpassed its initial goal of $25,000, and the donations continued to pour in.
As of this writing, the campaign is just $2,000 away from its updated goal of $125,000.
After announcing during an interfaith prayer service on Sunday that the Muslim-American community has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support the victims of Saturday's hate-driven massacre, Wasi Mohamed--executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh--said, "We're not gonna stop."
"We don't think our work is finished because that's a high number," Mohamed said. "We just want to know what you need. If it's more money, let us know. 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," Mohamed concluded. "And I'm sure everybody in the room would say the same thing."
Watch Mohamed's speech:
As part of an enormous outpouring of interfaith solidarity after an anti-Semitic gunman killed 11 people who were worshiping inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday--the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history--a Muslim-led crowdfunding campaign has raised over $120,000 in just 48 hours to help pay for the immediate needs of the wounded victims and grieving families.
"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."
--Wasi Mohamed, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
"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," reads the site of the campaign, 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."
Within just six hours of its launch on Saturday, the campaign had already far surpassed its initial goal of $25,000, and the donations continued to pour in.
As of this writing, the campaign is just $2,000 away from its updated goal of $125,000.
After announcing during an interfaith prayer service on Sunday that the Muslim-American community has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support the victims of Saturday's hate-driven massacre, Wasi Mohamed--executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh--said, "We're not gonna stop."
"We don't think our work is finished because that's a high number," Mohamed said. "We just want to know what you need. If it's more money, let us know. 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," Mohamed concluded. "And I'm sure everybody in the room would say the same thing."
Watch Mohamed's speech: