Muslim organizations raise $150,000 for Pittsburgh synagogue attacks victims

American Muslims have responded to the deadly attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue with generous donations of more than $150,000, contributing in the spirit of interfaith solidarity with their fellow citizens.

The attack on Tree of Life synagogue killed 11 members of Jewish worshippers on Saturday in one of the deadliest attacks on the community. The accused killer Robert Bowers, who followed hateful ideology toward the community, has been charged with 29 felony counts.

“Initially it was intended to be a gesture of solidarity,” Linda Sarsour, the co-founder of MPower Change, said in an interview with CBS News on Monday. “We wanted to give more than just ‘thoughts and prayers’.”

According to Muslim organizations, some of the money is already on the way to victims and their families, and organizers say they hope to cover the funeral and other expenses for all 11 people who were killed.

Two non-profit Muslim organizations, CelebrateMercy and MPowerChange,  launched an online drive to raise funds for the synagogue within hours of the shooting, and collected 25,000 in just six hours.

They are looking to raise $150,000 from about 3,600 donors

“We wish to respond to evil with good, as our Islamic faith teaches us, and send a powerful message of compassion to the Jewish community – our Abrahamic cousins,” Tarek El-Messidi, director of CelebrateMercy, said.

“Through this campaign, we hope to send a united message from the Jewish and Muslim communities that there is no place for this type of hate and violence in America or anywhere worldwide.”

Wasi Mohamed, executive director of the Pittsburgh Islamic center, said Muslims are ready even to protect members of the Jewish community.

“We just want to know what you need. If it’s people outside your next service protecting you, let us know. We’ll be there.”