Community Reaches Out to Local Islamic Center After Hate Crime

On February 10th, members of the Al-Farooq Islamic Center in South Nashville arrived for their morning prayers only to find that their building had been vandalized. Nashville City Paper reports that “the words ‘Muslims Go Home’ and a crusade-style cross [had been] spray-painted in red across the front of the center, which doubles as a mosque.” They also found a handwritten note taped to the youth training building; “the words ‘The Enemy Is Islam’ were underlined across the top, and the note was filled with statements tying Muslims to Satan and the downfall of Western nations.” One East Nashville resident was driving by the center on Wednesday and saw the graffiti. “ ‘When I saw it, I just broke down crying,’ the self-described unemployed truck driver said.” The resident immediately bought stain-blocker paint, brushes, rollers, and rags, and came back to the Center to help remove the hateful words. On February 13th, the Islamic Center of Nashville held an event planned long before the hate crime, and “opened their doors to inform, educate, and clear up any misconceptions about Islam,” NBC affiliate WSMV writes. One of the Center’s leaders, Salaad Nur, said “ ‘This is our home. If they indicated that they want us to go home, we want to let them know, we are already here.’ ” The Tennessean reports that 150 people attended the open house.