As anti-Islamic rhetoric continues in the political world, the Islamic Center of Tucson says they have received countless messages of support.
On Tuesday a stranger dropped off a bouquet of flowers at the center with a note that read, "You are loved. From one human to another, please know there is more love than hate..."
"It's very heart-warming," said Lynn Hourani. "It's a random act of kindness."
Hourani is a member of the Islamic Center of Tucson at 901 East 1st Street. In response to the mass shooting in San Bernardino, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said all Muslims should be temporarily banned from the United States. Hourani says she wasn't surprised by his comments, and fear-mongering seems to be the standard of American politics.
"If you look throughout American history, it's been peppered like incidents like this," Hourani said. "After Pearl Harbor the Japanese were put into camps, so this is nothing new."
"Instead of all getting along and educating each other and all coming together and building communities," Hourani said. "It seems like the media, politicians want to break that down because they want a platform."
The Islamic Center released the following statement in response to the San Bernardino shooting:
"We, at the Islamic Center of Tucson, are saddened by the horrific actions that took place in San Bernardino, California just a few days ago.
It is without hesitation or doubt that we denounce the actions of the perpetrators in this and all acts of senseless violence. Any actions of violence against defenseless civilians are morally repugnant and inexcusable by any definition.
The world once again grieves with the families of the victims and we hope that the daily atrocities we have become accustomed to cease sooner rather than later.
The responsibility falls on us to spread peace, love and tolerance, while so many are spreading violence, hate and prejudice. Let the voices of reason stand together and triumph over extremism."
Hourani is a mother of six, and three of her children are students at the University of Arizona. She is originally from Manchester, England, and runs a local group that does outreach programs in the community.
"It's been formed by primarily Muslim women because we feel that there is a need for us to be out and show that Muslims are not terrorists," Hourani said. "Don't be afraid of us. We are good people."
The key to a peaceful environment, Hourani says, is education and understanding all religions.
"The problem with not being educated and lack of knowledge is it's easy to be afraid," Hourani said. "And don't be afraid of each other. We're all human beings."
The Islamic center has an open door policy, and welcomes the community to come in and ask questions.
