A vigil at the Cook Carillon Tower March 21 will honor victims of the
New Zealand terrorist attacks.
Image credit - Amanda Pitts
Muslim students to hold vigil in response to New Zealand mass shooting
Mar 20, 2019
The Muslim Student Association will hold a vigil for the community Thursday, March 21, at the Cook Carillon Tower on the Allendale Campus to honor the victims of the terrorist attack at two New Zealand mosques.
The vigil will begin at 6:30 p.m. Provost Maria C. Cimitile and other university leaders are expected to give remarks.
Mohamed Abdirahman, from MSA, said the student organization wanted to send support and prayers to victims of the two Christchurch mosque shootings and their family members.
"We also wanted to bring more awareness to Islamophobia in society and its consequences, and to show that Grand Valley has a strong presence of Muslim students," Abdirahman said. "This attack brought in a wave of emotions for all of us. It took away our feeling of safety in a place where we felt most secure, but fear won’t keep us away from our mosque and standing proud."
An Australian man was arrested March 15 after shooting and killing 51 people at two different mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
President Thomas J. Haas sent a campuswide email following the mass shooting.
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