Austin Mosque Heightening Security after Vandalism
Some members of the North Austin Muslim Community Center may be in shock, but they are finding ways to make it work for them.
“It’s a sense of breaking the peace that you have in your heart. You’re coming into a place where you want to find peace, but then you see this in front of you, and that feelings of finding peace was shattered for a moment or so,” said vice president Adnan Suleiman.
The Austin Police Department said officers responded to a call at 1:30 a.m. Sunday at the North Austin Muslim Community Center. Someone shattered the glass doors and windows of the main hall. A car’s tires were also slashed.
The doors to the center are now boarded up.
“The psychological effect of that is much bigger, you know. You would feel a loss of sense of security. You don’t have that, sense of security anymore. Someone could come in shatter the doors go inside and do whatever,” said Suleiman.
The organization has been in Austin for 25 years and Suleiman said this was the first time property was damaged.
“It’s sort of a disbelief at first, but then given the political environment around us,” he said.
There is now going to be armed security overnight and plans for high resolution surveillance cameras and more lighting. Besides vigilance, members are being asked to look for opportunities to build relationships with the community.
Suleiman said they will not tolerate acts of violence or hate, but are open to communicating with people from all walks of life and anyone with questions about the culture.
“Talk to us, and see how we can maybe come to a common ground, where they can understand who we are,” Suleiman said.
The North Austin Muslim Community Center is only sharing its surveillance footage with the police. Members tell Spectrum News the video shows a young man in a black hoodie and jeans using a rock to break the glass.
The incident Sunday prompted consideration to move forward with a planned Labor Day program for children about bullying. Instead of cancelling the event, it also became a lesson in resilience.
“You can’t live your life in fear. I think that’s the biggest thing for this community and for the children to also see,” said Shanada Lewis, the center’s general secretary.
Source: spectrumlocalnews.com
