Muslims, Jews, Christians and Sikhs gathered at the Islamic Center of Southern California Friday for prayers, hoping to find the guidance needed to help make sense of the violence that had killed so many of their fellow faithful nearly 7,000 miles away.
Najeeba Syeed, right, puts her head on the shoulder of Hedab Tarifi, both members of the Islamic Center of Southern California during a news conference. People of all faiths came together in prayer one day after shootings at mosques in New Zealand killed at least 49 people.
“Islamophobia has taught everyone that we Muslims do not embrace a religion, but rather, an ideology,” he said with force. “That we love to hate, rather than love to love.” In a news conference before Jumu’ah prayers, LAPD Chief Michel Moore, Mayor Eric Garcetti and faith leaders called on communities to stand up against hate. Nearly 100 people packed into the back of the room, some holding signs with messages like “We are one” scrawled in Hebrew.
Rabbi Sharon Brous said she stood with all people who have been targeted for their faith, race or ethnicity. “It felt like this whole act was to dehumanize the community, to approach it like we were characters in a video game,” Syeed, 45, said.
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