Moussa Radi
Three Muslim organizations in the US started an online campaign to raise money to rebuild eight black churches that have been burned down since the attack in Charleston where nine church members lost their lives.
MuslimARC, The Arab-American Association of New York and Ummah Wide organized the fundraising. Since the campaign was launched on July 2, more than $30,000 has been donated by over 700 supporters . With only a week left, they’ve already succeeded in raising the intended amount of $ 30,000. Until now three of the burned churches have been ruled arson by the investigators, the other ones are still under investigation by the FBI. Although some of the burned churches are still under investigation, it’s not unusual that Black churches have been intimidated by these kinds of attacks throughout history in the south, says the campaign’s website.
Imam Zaid Shakir based in California urges people to donate by stating that: “The American Muslim community cannot claim to have experienced anything close to the systematic and institutionalized racism and racist violence that has been visited upon African Americans. We do, however, understand the climate of racially inspired hate and bigotry that is being reignited in this country. We want to let our African American brothers and sisters know that we stand in solidarity with them during this dark hour. As a small symbol of that solidarity, during this blessed month of Ramadan, we are gathering donations to help rebuild the seven churches that have been burned down since the racist murders in Charleston, South Carolina.”
According to the campaign’s website people can help by donating money right here. The organizers are also calling on to sign the petition to urge the President re-convene the National Church Arson Task Force. 792 supporters have already signed the petition.
