Sunday Event to be held at Jamaica Muslim Center
NEW YORK – Nusantara President Imam Shamsi Ali and Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) President Rabbi Marc Schneier will hold a large interfaith vigil in response to the terror attack in New Zealand’s Al Noor and Linwood Mosques. New York City elected officials, interfaith and community leaders are expected to be in attendance at the vigil on Sunday March 17th at 12pm at the Jamaica Muslim Center (85-37 168th St., Jamaica, NY) – the largest Muslim community in New York City.
Hundreds of New Yorkers from various faiths and ethnicities will join Imam Ali and Rabbi Schneier to declare their solidarity with the victims and families of the New Zealand attacks and to express their commitment to work together to fight anti-Muslim bigotry.
“The tragic event last night in New Zealand are an attack on the Muslim community,” said Imam Shamsi Ali. “We condemn it fully and urge authorities to bring the perpetrator to justice quickly. The events in New Zealand, Quebec City, Pittsburgh and Charleston remind us that terrorism does not discriminate between religions. Jews, Christians and Muslims have all been targeted. It is time to come together to combat bigotry.”
“Standing together in the face of terrorism is a communal responsibility. As a member of the Jewish community, I see it as my responsibility to the Islamic community to be at the forefront of battling Islamophobia and any attack or form of bigotry against the Islamic faith and Muslims,” added FFEU President Rabbi Schneier. “I stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters and condemn in the strongest terms the attacks which took place at Al Noor Mosque and at Linwood Mosque in New Zealand. We must stand together against Islamophobia.”
The two have held joint events in the past, such as the “Today I am a Muslim Too” rally as well as co-authored, “Sons of Abraham” about how they overcame the temptations of bigotry and work together to bridge the chasm between Muslims and Jews.
Founded in 2014 Nusantara Foundation is a non profit primarily working education and interfaith cooperation in US and beyond. Nusantara also organizes, sponsors and co sponsors a variety of seminars and interfaith conferences at the UN and American universities. Nusantara is fully committed to promote dialogue and partnership with all people build a better work to share.
Founded in 1989, the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding is the global address for Muslim-Jewish relations and the national address for African American-Jewish relations. The organization is committed to the belief that direct dialogue between ethnic communities is the most effective path towards reconciliation. For more information, visit https://ffeu.org/.