Muslim Americans Fundraise For Vandalized Jewish Cemetery
This Story of Muslim Americans Helping Repair a Vandalized Jewish Cemetery Will Fill Your Heart
Over the past week, a historical Jewish cemetery in St. Louis was vandalized, adding to the plethora of recent threats and hate crimes targeted at the Jewish community.
Police in Missouri say vandals toppled and damaged about 100 headstones at a historic Jewish cemetery https://t.co/hy7PSSO5ZD pic.twitter.com/nyBWMOXzmG
— CNN (@CNN) February 21, 2017
Following the news of this concerning anti-Semitic act, two Muslim Americans have teamed up to help restore the damaged property. Activists Linda Sarsour, one of the Women's March organizers, and Tarek El-Messidi launched a crowdfunding campaign to repair the cemetery's headstones. In just three short hours, they reached their initial fundraising goal of $20,000; now, more than 2,000 supporters have rallied together to raise more than $80,000 at press time, which will assist other targeted Jewish centers around the US.
The campaign's official page spreads a powerful message of unity and tolerance in the face of these anti-Semitic attacks. "Through this campaign, we hope to send a united message from the Jewish and Muslim communities that there is no place for this type of hate, desecration, and violence in America," the page reads. "We pray that this restores a sense of security and peace to the Jewish-American community who has undoubtedly been shaken by this event."
To support this worthy cause, visit the project's official donation page.
