As arson, assaults add up at houses of faith, their leaders unify on Sunday in Tacoma
In the past two months, churches, mosques, a Sikh community center and a Buddhist nun have been attacked, violated, burned or desecrated in the South Sound.
On Sunday, faith leaders from those targeted houses of worship along with elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, will convene at Tacoma Community College to condemn the violence and spread a message of unity.
“No matter how much people may seek to promote hate or violence, we as people of faith stand united, and an attack on one of us really is an attack on all,” said organizer Aneelah Afzali, executive director of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound-American Muslim Empowerment Network (MAPS-AMEN).
Afzali acknowledged that the reasons for the attacks vary and not all are hate crimes.
“But regardless of the reason for these attacks, places of worship should be peaceful places, places where we find sanctuary, not that we find attack or harm,” she said Friday.
One of those arson attacks occurred Oct. 11 at the Islamic Center of Tacoma in University Place. A man allegedly tossed burning material onto the roof of the mosque, causing extensive fire. A suspect is in custody.
AbdulHakim Mohamed, imam and executive director of the mosque, doesn’t want people to stress out over the recent events.
“The majority of the people are amazing, are awesome, are great,” Mohamed said. “And there’s a few people like this that want to create division and hate. We’re not going to allow them to do that.”
The “Interfaith Solidarity Against Attacks on Places of Worship” begins at 2 p.m. and will consist of short speeches, Afzali said.
Afzali hopes Sunday’s event also will send the message to the justice system that attacks on faith-based institutions need to be fully investigated.
“When people see and hear about this alarming uptick in these kinds of attacks, and especially in Tacoma, where a lot of them have happened, it’s really disturbing,” she said.
Mohamed, who will speak on Sunday, doesn’t know why his mosque and other houses of worship have been targeted. He says it will only strengthen the community.
“The fire will only enlighten our hearts with love and unity,” he said. “The buildings might burn, but we will only come together.”
Recent attacks on houses of worship
▪ An arson fire damaged an office at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish Oct. 24. Cameron Riley Prater has been charged with that fire and five others.
▪ An arson at Islamic Center of Tacoma in University Place on Oct. 11. Angel Joseph Rodriguez has been charged with the crime.
▪ An assault on a Buddhist nun at Khmer Theravadin Buddhist Temple in Tacoma on Sept. 21.
▪ An arson at The Oasis of Hope Center in Tacoma, part of the Greater Christ Temple Church on Sept. 12. Willie Burnett Carroll has been charged with arson in that incident.
▪ A break-in and desecration of religious items at Masjid Umar Al-Farooq Mosque in Mountlake Terrace on Sept. 12.
▪ Vandalism at St. Edward Church in Seattle on Oct. 10 and at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Seattle in August.
▪ A break-in, theft and vandalism at Khalsa Gurmat Center (a Sikh community center in Federal Way) on Sept. 17.
‘Interfaith Solidarity Gathering’
When: 2-3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Tacoma Community College, 6501 S. 19th St., Tacoma, Building 2, Auditorium (closest parking is in lots H and G)
Registration: Required for the event at www.tinyurl.com/InterfaithSolidarity.
Organized by: The Islamic Center of Tacoma, Associated Ministries and MAPS.
COVID-19 Guidelines: TCC regulations require all guests to be fully vaccinated for this indoor event, and masks will be required.
