Rev. Joe Robinson of the Christ Church of Cambridge addressing the gathering in solidarity with Peshawar APS victims, and Muslims. Photo: Beena Sarwar
Last Sunday as we geared up to commemorate the Peshawar APS massacre of Dec 16, 2014, when Taliban killed 144 schoolchildren, a bomb blast in Shia-majority Parachinar at the lunda bazar (second-hand market) killed over 22 people, most of them poor. We talked about that at our gathering that afternoon at Harvard Square where Reverend Joe Robinson and members of the Christ Church in Cambridge joined us in solidarity, as did many others from the local Pakistani and Indian communities. Rabbi Neal Gold of Temple Shir Tikvah couldn’t join us but we read out his letter of support and solidarity to the Islamic Center of Boston.
Many friends joined us from another rally in Providence, R.I., an hour away, attended by some 3-400 people of all faiths, including Muslim, Jewish, Christian and agnostics.
Here’s a link to a piece I wrote for Scroll.in on the issue: #NeverForget: A year after Peshawar school attack, voices rise in solidarity around the world
Participants at the Cambridge, MA, remembrance for APS sign cards in sympathy and solidarity with the victims’ families. Photo: Beena Sarwar
Also below, the different venues where people gathered later that week to commemorate a year after the massacre #APSmassacre #NeverForget
– London – Wednesday 16 December – 18:30 Marble Arch
Statement shared at the gathering on Dec 13, 2015, at Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA (Boston area)
Humanity Trumps All
Members of the Christ Church of Cambridge stand in solidarity at the remembrance for APS Peshawar victims and against Islamophobia. Photo: Ken Shulman
We stand against attempts to subvert our common humanity in the name of religion, politics, nationalism or any other ideology
Pakistani Americans, poet Irfan Malik and artist Ambreen Butt at the Cambridge rally. Photo: Ken Shulman
The militants claim to act in the name of Islam, yet they kill innocents, including Muslim women and children, and Muslims of different sects whom the extremists consider to be non-Muslims. These fanatics have killed more Muslims than non-Muslims in their quest for political power since 9/11.
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We reject the radicalization of Islam or any other religion. The cancer of extremism has to be eradicated.
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We stand united against the forces that are trying to hijack Islam, a religion that 1.4 billion Muslims peacefully follow.
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We assert that religion is a personal matter and no one has the right to impose their version upon anyone else.
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We refuse to allow the use of religion for political or business agendas.
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We condemn and reject the radicalization of political thought in America and elsewhere. Violent and extremist political rhetoric leads to violent and extreme actions. It de-humanizes a community and encourages some to feel justified in attacking ‘the other’.
Demonstrators at the Cambridge rally. Photo: Ken Shulman
History is replete with such examples. Today the target is Muslims.
- AdvoPak, Washington DC
- American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Peace & Economic Security Program
- Critical Connections, MA
- Harvard Pakistan Student Group
- Laal Band, Pakistan
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More Than My Religion art collective
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Organisation of Pakistani Entrepreneurs (OPEN), New England
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Temple Shir Tikva, Wayland
- Pakistanis in Mississauga/GTA Against Terrorism, Canada
- #ProjectPakistan, Dallas, TX
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The Citizens Foundation (TCF-USA)
Filed under: 'War on terror', Violence in the name of religion | Tagged: #NeverForget, Christ Church, interfaith, Rabbi Neal Gold, Temple Shirtikvah, Trump |
Journeys to democracy 
Great article with treasure of information which can be the reason to find solution to such problems
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