STANDING TOGETHER BY CANDLELIGHT
It appeared there were no people of Muslim faith at a candlelight vigil in Bell Block on Sunday, as silence followed a request for them to come forward.
Then one person stood up and dozens followed. The 100-strong crowd, all holding candles, erupted into applause.
‘‘United we stand, united we fall,’’ one woman sang, before a waiata and the New Zealand national anthem was sung.
Vigil organiser Jessica Temata said she thought just a few people would come to the event organised to show support to the Bell Block Muslim community by remembering the dead and supporting the living victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings.
‘‘I was amazed at how many people showed up,’’ she said. ‘‘I was pretty proud.’’
One member of the Muslim community, who emigrated to New Zealand 12 years ago, proudly stood in front of the crowd and said that after the attacks he was questioning if he and his family had made the right decision to leave their homeland.
‘‘A lot of things went through my mind, whether we had chosen the right place,’’ he said. ‘‘We feel tonight we have chosen the right place.’’
His friend of 20 years had lost his eldest son in the attacks.
‘‘I’ve just run out of tears, I can’t shed any more tears,’’ he said.
New Plymouth resident Erina Henderson, attended the vigil with her family to show love and support for the community.
‘‘We need to show peace and love and that’s the Kiwi spirit,’’ she said.