The Unexpected Ally Raising Cash to Rebuild Burned Black Churches
It’s well known that relations have been strained between Christians and Muslims since the Crusades. But in the aftermath of the burning of eight black churches across the South over the past two weeks, a campaign spearheaded by a seemingly unlikely group of allies shows what can happen when people set aside their differences.
A crowdfunding campaign launched a week ago by Muslim activists and organizations has raised more than $53,000 to help rebuild the burned churches, smashing the initial goal of $10,000 with donations from all over the world. The effort is being spearheaded by three groups: the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, the Arab American Association of New York, and the digital startup Ummah Wide.
“It’s Ramadan, and we are experiencing firsthand the beauty and sanctity of our mosques during this holy month. ALL houses of worship are sanctuaries, a place where all should feel safe, a place we can seek refuge when the world is too much to bear,” the activists wrote on the campaign website.
“There has not been anywhere near the amount of resources needed to rebuild these churches. The time is now, let’s unite to help our sisters and brothers in faith.”
The nation had barely begun to grieve the horrific killing of nine members of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17—or wonder if prosecutors would pursue the death penalty for the alleged gunman, Dylann Roof—when the epidemic of black church burnings began. Several of the fires have been found to be arson, which led the Muslim activists to step up as allies.
“These kinds of attacks on Black churches are a very old form of intimidation in the South, historically used to strike fear into the hearts of Black people,” the activists wrote.
So, Why Should You Care? The campaign is a powerful, much-needed example of interfaith unity, given the religious violence around the globe between the two communities. In the ongoing civil war in the Central African Republic, Christian militias have been engaging in ethnic cleansing and murdering Muslims. In Pakistan, a Christian woman sentenced to death for drinking out of the same cup as her Muslim coworker may die in prison prior to her execution date due to poor health. Meanwhile, in the U.S. in February, three Muslim college students were shot in North Carolina, and the case is being investigated as a hate crime.
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What helped raise so much money so quickly? Muslim media outlets in Pakistan as well as in Egypt were some of the first to spread the word about the campaign to raise cash for the church rebuilding effort in the United States. The campaign strongly emphasizes the shared experiences of the two groups.
“As Muslims we know the importance of protecting the vulnerable and respecting people who call on God in their various tongues. We want for others what we want for ourselves: the right to worship without intimidation, the right to safety, and the right to property,” the activists wrote.
The fund-raising effort has set a new goal of $75,000 and will end on July 18.
Related stories on TakePart:
• Tired of Being Demonized, Muslims on Twitter Apologize for Algebra, Coffee, and Soap
• 9 Powerful Images That Show Resilience, Solidarity, and Hope in South Carolina
• After a Tragedy, Forgiveness and the Death Penalty Are at Odds in South Carolina
Original article from TakePart
