How Atlantans respond to hate crimes matters

Violent terrorism, targeting a faith group has struck again, this time in normally placid New Zealand.

As we in Atlanta and elsewhere watched the breaking news, Muslim worshippers in Christchurch had gathered for Friday morning prayers. It is no accident the shooters chose the Muslim sabbath to strike. Within minutes, 49 Muslims were dead, at least 20 others were seriously wounded, and a community and country are left wondering how this destruction could happen.

Targeting houses of worship, be they Christian, Jewish or Muslim, occurs too frequently and has devastating consequences for congregations and wider communities. This hate is global. While racists, Islamaphobes and anti-Semites might target a specific group, our global community is at risk. We have experienced massacres in Paris, Belgium, Mumbai and Buenos Aires. In fact, the United Kingdom, France and Belgium have all documented significant increase in hate crimes, especially against Muslims and Jews and these same hate crimes are on the rise in the United States.

While these racists, Islamaphobes and anti-Semites might target a specific group, we are all at risk from targeting the beacons of peace — houses of worship once thought to be havens. Religious institutions are protected by police, metal detectors and community activists.

Closer to home, Charleston, Orlando and Pittsburgh’s religious communities are all victims of the senseless acts. Each of these travesties are perpetrated by humans who confuse the purpose and meaning of any religion. They use social media and technology to glorify their destruction, spread their message and recruit others to join their cause. Indeed, one of the New Zealand shooters had the audacity to stream his vicious, deadly attacks inside the mosques. Their goal is not just to kill, but to terrorize all of us.

After the evil, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists come together. We join together in mourning and anger, and also to form links of understanding, trust and support in the rights of all to worship freely or not at all.

These gatherings are the light that disrupts darkness. In the last half of the 20th century, Atlanta staked its claim as a global leader in business, academics, philanthropy and creating community. However, we have not been immune. The past few years have given rise to hate crimes. Although not all are officially reported, it is clearly evident on social media that incidents are on the rise.

To combat hate, Atlanta’s faith communities have been working in tandem to demonstrate that it is far more important for us to know each other. We work sideby-side to show the world we are first human beings and friends, not just people who pass each other on the street. We have a rich history of breaching barriers. We enjoy films, concerts, theater and school events in community centers, synagogues, mosques and churches that we all share. While successful, there is still more to do.

Now is the time to create a Coalition of Conscience to join a diverse group of people. We need to show that Atlantans believe in unity, pluralism, democracy and oppose hate, bigotry, supremacy and divisiveness. Through our shared values, we seek to prevent the spread of hateful ideologies and abort future attacks.