Tarek El-Messidi, along with Linda Sarsour, the same Palestinian-American-Muslim civil rights activists behind the Women's March on Washington, have made their mark in society again. After around 200 headstones were desecrated at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, located in a St. Louis suburb, the two started a fundraising campaign on the LaunchingGood site to help Jewish families repair the damage caused by vandals. The page, which went up on Tuesday afternoon, states the campaign was launched in hopes of sending a united message from Jewish and Muslim communities that there is no place in America for hate and violence.
They pray this effort will help restore peace and security to a shaken Jewish-American community. El-Messidi said it was a great way to show honor and respect for their Jewish cousins.
From zero dollars to $23,000 in just three hours
The pair's goal was to raise $20,000 to fund repairs for the knocked-over tombstones. Within three hours, they had surpassed their goal with $23,000, and as of today, they have received a total of $71,000 in donations. El-Messidi and Sarsour plan to continue collecting money on behalf of the Jewish community. Sarsour wrote that, in response to threats made against Jewish community centers across the nation, the additional funds received will go towards assisting these centers.
While the police may say there is nothing to indicate the vandalism was a hate crime, the Anti-Defamation League is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest.
Fighting hatred with love
The U.S. has seen an uptick in anti-Semitic attacks over the past several months following dog-whistles, questionable affiliations, etc., coming from the current administration.
This, despite talking points thinly disguised as admonishments, belated as they may be. But who can forget the disturbing images of small children and babies flashing across television screens showing them being carted out in cribs from their daycare centers because of bomb threats?
