Anger begets anger, hatred begets hatred. The Orlando carnage, was unleashed by a gunman Omar Mateen killed 50 and injured 53, during a horrific shooting at the LGBT nightclub, Pulse. There was a surge on anti-Muslim reactions from all over the United States. Muslims in Florida were donating their blood to help the victims this morning in Orlando. She announced a fund drive to raise money for victims of the carnage. A report by Joyce. 

Today, a tsunami of angry, anti-Muslim reactions poured out all over the United States in response to the horrific shooting at the LGBT nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando, FloridaAmerican – where gunman Omar Mateen killed 50 and injured 53. But at the same time something else was also happening. Representatives of the Muslim and LBGT communities in Florida had come together at a press conference in a remarkable show of unity.

“There is never, ever any justification for such unacceptable crimes against humanity, crimes against God, crimes against our country,” said Hassan Shibly, executive director of the Florida branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, as reported in the Orlando Sentinel.

As Shibly spoke Muslims in Florida were donating their blood to help the victims of the early this morning in Orlando. He announced a fund drive to raise money for victims of the carnage.

The Sentinel also reported that Shibly described how the LGBT community is “standing shoulder to shoulder in the fight against Islamophobia” and stated emphatically that the Muslim community would return the support. “The reality is, we both have the same enemies that promote fear and hate against the U.S. and that have targeted both communities for violent acts,” Shibly said.

In response, Carlos Guillermo Smith, a representative of Equality Florida, an LGBT advocacy group, stated: “Let me be clear: Equality Florida stands in solidarity with the Muslim and Islamic community and in opposition to the intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes that both of our communities experience.”

It is hard to say if this will spark a national dialogue between the Muslim and LGBT communities that will lead to healing and possibly prevention of similar acts of violence. In any case, this example of clear thinking in the midst of hysteria provides an oasis of hope.

©Joyce Yarrow

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Joyce Yarrow

Joyce Yarrow is a Pushcart Prize nominee and her poetry, short stories, and music have been widely published. Her acclaimed Jo Epstein mystery series includes 'Ask the Dead' and 'Russian reckoning' and she recently co-authored a family saga/thriller, 'Rivers run back,' with Arindam Roy. Joyce is an activist, lobbying strongly for the anti-gun laws. When she is not writing, she sings for Abrace, aspiring for global peace.

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