COLUMBIA, Tenn.- A Middle Tennessee house of worship marked with swastikas and set on fire has started the rebuilding process.
Last week, arsonists set the Islamic Center of Columbia ablaze, destroying the building.
This Saturday community members returned to the site of the Islamic Center for a community vigil.
The Islamic Center was a small one, serving about 20 families, but there were more than a 100 people that attended Saturday's event.
The center held its traditional noon prayer, before holding the vigil. It featured a diverse range of speakers that spanned across ethnic and religious boundaries. All of them condemned the act of arson.
Police have arrested three men in connection with the crime. Two of the suspects have been linked to a white supremacy group. On Saturday, supporters of the Islamic Center came from as far as Huntsville Alabama to express their support.
Organizations such as the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, the Islamic Center of Nashville, the Maury Alliance Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education among others were present for the vigil.
Residents and city leaders in Columbia also stressed the importance of making people of all faiths and races feel welcome in the community.
"The message we want to send today that we hope to convey, not just to those who are present, but to everyone in this community and beyond, that this was a hate crime directed at all of us," said Dauoud Abudiab, president of the Islamic center of Nashville.
The group's president ended the vigil by promising the crowd that the Islamic Center of Columbia would rebuild.
Below is the information if you would like to contribute to the rebuilding fund.
Islamic Center of Columbia Rebuilding Fund
Community First Bank and Trust
501 S James Campbell Blvd.
Columbia, TN 38401
931-380-2265
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