In an act of solidarity and symbolism to the Muslim community inside participating in Friday prayer, New Zealanders gathered by the hundreds to create a human chain outside a mosque.
In Wellington, New Zealand, on Friday, people gathered outside the Kilbirnie Mosque in a quiet and moving show of support for the Wellington Islamic Community. The gathering took place one week after mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, left at least 50 people dead.
Images and videos of the human chain circulated on social media, showing how far it reached:
Human chain forming around Wellington mosque before Friday prayer pic.twitter.com/L7shSP4Niw
— Veronika Meduna (@VeronikaMeduna) March 22, 2019
#Wellington in solidarity in their hundreds at #kilbirnie #mosque as #NewZealand remembers the #ChristchurchMosqueAttack with a human chain around the entire block the mosque is in and two minutes of silence today #StrongerTogether #aroha pic.twitter.com/rz8yQmuuKn
— Sue Teodoro (@SueTeodoro) March 22, 2019
The human chain outside Wellington Islamic Centre. Beautiful. @rnz_news pic.twitter.com/rsOYnIxnvW
— Charlie Dreaver (@CharlieDreaver) March 22, 2019
“The atmosphere was sad, quiet, but determined,” Sue Teodoro, who was at the vigil, told CNN. “Many women wore headscarves. Many people cried openly. It was incredibly moving. People were determined that the community should pray without fear today.”
Teodoro later told the publication that “the message from the community was clear: Terrorists will not break New Zealand’s spirit.”
Earlier this week, Christchurch locals also formed a human chain in support of Muslim worshippers in front of the Al Noor mosque.
I’m not ashamed to admit I wept at this scene tonight — Christchurch locals forming a human chain behind Muslims as they perform maghrib prayers in front of the Al Noor mosque, where so many died. It was utterly beautiful pic.twitter.com/6CjKAi4ir6
— Jerome Taylor (@JeromeTaylor) March 20, 2019
The human chains appear to be part of a larger movement organized by NZ Stand Together. On Facebook, the organization created an event to support the Muslim community in New Zealand and encouraged followers to form human chains of “love and support” around local mosques.
“Let’s form a human chain of love and support around your local Mosques on Friday at noon so they can pray in peace. We have set the event to start at midday and prayers commence at 1.30pm,” reads the event’s Facebook page. “We need to show our Muslim brothers and sisters that we are here for them. We will peacefully stand together #theyareus#standtogether.”
In light of the horrific attacks, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday that the country would be banning military-style semiautomatic weapons.
“Every semiautomatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned,” Ardern said at a news conference.
In addition to military-style assault rifles, the ban includes high-capacity magazines and tools to modify firearms, and the arms “will be categorized as weapons with an E-class endorsement” until legislation formally passes, according to Ardern.
http://www.spiritualvigor.com/2019/03/new-zealanders-create-human-chain.html
“Every semiautomatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned,” Ardern said at a news conference.
Well, no wonder he made such a point to show in full view all those weapons he had (despite New Zealand’s already restrictive gun laws) and supposedly include in his manifesto that more gun control would come out of it.
mossad.
YEP!!!!!
Just wait till in turns into there faces , time will tell
“Let’s form a human chain of love and support around your local Mosques on Friday at noon so they can pray in peace.”
Enter the Kumbaya crowd.
Protecting Muslims everywhere from fake terrorist attacks.