Our hearts are heavy with the news of a targeted massacre at Masjid al Noor and Linwood Masjid in Christchurch, New Zealand this morning.
We thank our local mosques and partners for creating a space to grieve and heal in community, and the Department of Public Safety for proactively working to ensure community spaces are safe at this time.
Echoing Mayor Elorza, we stand with our neighbors in Christchurch, and the Muslim community far and near, re-asserting that Islamophobia is unconscionable in all its many forms and hate will not be tolerated in our community. If you are a witness or recipient of discrimination, harassment, or violence based on personal identity, please know the following resources are available to you:
– File a charge with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights online, or at 401-222-2661, 401-222-2664 TTY
– Call the Providence Hate Crime Hotline at 1-877-3HCRIME (1-877-342-7463)
– Contact Providence Police at 401-272-3121 or 9-1-1 in the case of emergency
Yours in solidarity,
The Providence Human Relations Commission