Aims of the man who killed 49 people in two Christchurch mosques included trying to divide New Zealand and the world, trying to inflate hate. His atrocities have had the opposite effect.
While there have been isolated attempts at excusing his actions, of victim blaming, and other inappropriate responses, New Zealanders have have overwhelmingly expressed disgust at the mass murder of innocent and defenceless people, and have overwhelmingly shown sympathy and empathy for the victims and their families and friends, and for the whole Muslim community throughout New Zealand.
Vigils for Christchurch mosque shooting victims held across the country
Thousands of people have gathered across New Zealand to mourn the victims of Friday’s terror attack in Christchurch.
At Deans Avenue mosque, people wanting to pay their respects laids flowers at a police cordon, as armed offenders swept the area with metal detectors on Saturday.
In Auckland, thousands of people attended at vigil at Aotea Square, with more planned across the country.
‘We love you’: mosques around world showered with flowers after Christchurch massacre
Mosques in New Zealand and around the world have been inundated with floral tributes and messages of support after a massacre in Christchurch in which 49 Muslims were killed.
The strongest response from the public was in New Zealand, which is reeling in the wake of the worst peacetime mass killing in the nation’s history.
The outpouring of support for the Muslim community was so large that outside some mosques there was nowhere for well-wishers to park. Some messages read: “We love you”, “We are one” and “Forever changed”.
In Australia, the response to the massacre was similarly heartfelt, with tributes pouring into mosques across the country.
The outpouring of support continued in America where people also left candles outside mosques.
In Britain, solidarity was also on show.
Muslim places of worship in Canada also saw tributes.
Typical around the world:
Muslims are New Zealanders, residents or citizens, like the rest of us. They were going about their lives peacefully. Many of them came to New Zealand seeing it as a place safe from awful situations overseas.
It has been reported that victims are associated with a number of countries, including Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.
New Zealanders, have been out in force around the country and on social media showing their sympathy for those affected by the atrocities, and their solidarity with Muslims and their communities.
Rather than divide the awful events have done the opposite, they have initiated outpourings of peaceful messages, of sympathy, of love, of togetherness.
Kiwis are overwhelmingly demonstrating that, while terrorism cannot always be avoided, the effects can be negated by defying the aims of sick, murderous individuals.
A lot of credit needs to be given to people who helped victims of the shootings on and around the scenes in Christchurch on Friday. People who must have been at risk themselves helped their fellow human beings in need.
The police officers and ambulance officers had very demanding jobs to do, uncertain of the risks of the situations they were putting themselves into. Many of them deserve a lot of praise – when the going gets tough people stepped up big time.
Two police officers, aware in part at least of what had happened, aware of the likelihood the perpetrator would still be armed (he was), rammed and disable his car and apprehended him. This bravery, risking their lives, may well have saved other lives.
Give-a-Little – Victim Support Official Page: Christchurch Shooting Victims’ Fund – currently $2,836,767.17 donated.
A Muslim in Dunedin wrote:
“I live in Dunedin and we have experienced nothing but kindness respect and understanding from everyone we have come into contact with.
I have lived here for three years and have many friends who have helped me to settle here.
Everyone is devastated by this terrible tragedy and it not only deeply saddens Muslims living here but all New Zealanders.
There are people everywhere who are misguided and full of hate. We must learn to love more and hate less.
We respect all religions and cultures and all people’s regardless of their faith or belief May Allah have mercy for the people who lost their lives.”
We must learn to tolerate more, to love each other and to promote peaceful co-existence of our wide variety of cultures, ethnicities, nationalities and religions and beliefs.
Through adversity, a day of despicable terror in Christchurch, we are becoming better people and a better nation.
We Kiwis unite for a better, more peaceful world.
