Interfaith Leaders, Officials Unite in NYC to Condemn Hate After Tragic San Diego Attack on Muslim Community
Brooklyn, NY (Manzoor Hussain )
In a powerful demonstration of unity and solidarity, leaders from across government agencies, law enforcement bodies, and interfaith communities gathered in New York City to stand with the Muslim community following the tragic attack in San Diego that claimed the lives of three Muslim individuals.
The emergency solidarity gathering was organized on short notice by Imam Muhammad Shahidullah and JMC Secretary General Mohammed Fakhrul Islam Delwer, in collaboration with NYC Muslim community leaders. The event reflected a collective and urgent response to rising concerns over hate-driven violence and Islamophobia in the United States.
Community members, faith leaders, and representatives from multiple civic and governmental institutions came together to express grief, support the victims’ families, and reaffirm a shared commitment to peace and coexistence. Participants emphasized that moments of tragedy must be met with unity rather than division.
The gathering saw participation from representatives of the Governor’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, Mayor’s Office, NYPD, FDNY, MTA, Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, COPO, Commonpoint, and numerous interfaith and community organizations. Together, they delivered a unified message rejecting hate, violence, and discrimination in all forms.
The program opened with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Imam Zafeer Ali, Dean of Al-Mamoor School, setting a solemn tone for the proceedings.
A series of distinguished speakers addressed the gathering, including Aftab Mannan, Vice President of JMC; Caura Richardson from Governor Kathy Hochul’s Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services; FDNY Chaplain Joseph Potasnik, who also serves as Executive Director of the Board of Rabbis; and Bob Kaplan, Human Rights Commissioner and MTA Chaplain.
Additional remarks were delivered by Vijay Ramjattan of the Mayor’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, and a message from Mayor Zohran Mamdani was shared through Darin Sawan of the Office of Mass Engagement. Officials from the New York State Attorney General’s Office, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau, Queens Borough President’s Office, and Queens District Attorney’s Office also participated in the program.
Interfaith representation was strongly reflected, with participation from Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Caribbean community leaders. Speakers including Dr. Henry Goldsmith of the Interfaith Center of New York, Rabbi Yossi Mendelson, representatives from the Sikh and Chinese communities, and leaders from multiple civic coalitions highlighted the importance of unity across religious and cultural lines.
Organizations such as JCRC, UJA, QJCC, HJC, GodSquad, JMC leadership, and the Save the People “Hate to Hope” initiative reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to combating hate and promoting community harmony.
Leaders collectively condemned Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism, and all other forms of hatred, stressing that violence against any community is an attack on society as a whole. Speakers called for continued cooperation among communities and institutions to ensure safety, dignity, and justice for all residents.
The gathering concluded with prayers for the victims and their families, alongside renewed calls to strengthen bridges of understanding, compassion, and mutual respect among diverse communities.
As participants departed, the central message remained clear: in the face of tragedy, unity is the strongest response, and collective humanity must prevail over hatred and fear.
