Over Thanksgiving several mosques in California, including the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose, received highly threatening and Islamophobic letters. As a response, the San Jose community offered a “grassroots show of solidarity.” Last Friday, members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Pantsuit Nation and People Acting in Community Together stood together outside the mosque with signs that read “Muslims make San Jose better” and “Embrace diversity.”
Faisal Yazadi, board president of the Evergreen Islamic Center, said the support is just what the Muslim community needs at this time. “It makes us feel that we are loved and that not everybody feels the way that one person feels,” says Mr. Yazadi. “One bad apple doesn’t break our spirit.” The center has received hundreds of supportive emails, flowers and cards from as far away as Australia.
Bridget Harrison is a member of the Pantsuit Nation of San Jose (a “secret” Facebook group which supports Hillary Clinton) and coordinated the activist event. “I along with many in the community have been disturbed by issues of hate and bigotry and discrimination that have been popping up over the last few weeks and we’re looking for a way to make a statement to show that that’s not what our community is about,” says Ms. Harrison. “Our community is about support and tolerance and acceptance.”
