Islamic Cultural Center of New York vandalized — as advocates announce $500,000 effort to fight Islamophobia
This wasn’t the first time the house of worship had been defaced, either.
Roughly three months ago, someone spray-painted a different sign for the mosque logo near the E. 97th St. entrance, spokesman Mohammed Hagiabucar said. Then, a month later, someone stole the sign entirely. Staff reported both incidents to the police but no one has been arrested, according to Hagiabucar.
“It’s scary,” he said. “We don’t know what is in these people’s minds.”
“Fifteen years since 9/11 — this is the worst we’ve ever seen,” Sarsour said at New York Community Trust’s Third Ave. headquarters. “We’ve seen hate before but never to this level. Trump’s type of rhetoric inevitably leads to this type of hate.”
The hefty grant, which will be distributed among eight nonprofit groups, will fund efforts to foster more engagement with Muslim New Yorkers. One initiative will encourage Muslims to join local community boards.
“People who know a Muslim will look at Islam more favorably. I think that speaks volumes,” said Tazmin Uddin, 25, a coordinator with Turning Point for Women and Families.