News related to the deadly mosque shootings in New Zealand is still developing and leaders all over the world are denouncing hatred and islamophobia. In Fort Wayne, the message stresses resilience and community support.
Local Muslim activist Ahmed Abdelmageed said he first heard of of the attack which left 49 people dead so far, first thing in the morning. He said his first thought was the safety of Mosques in the Fort Wayne area. He called Fort Wayne Police and requested they be more visible around mosques throughout the day.
Abdelmageed said that as a Muslim, the New Zealand attack hit close to home for him, but that feeling is a familiar one by now.
“To be honest with you, it hit me in the same way as the news we hear of the shooting in the synagogue, the shooting in the churches,” he said, “Hate is blind, you can justify how you want to justify it and I guess that’s the scary part.”
Abdelmageed said he worries about his children when he hears about targeted attacks like the one in New Zealand, but he noted that the outpouring of love and support from the community makes him hopeful.