Not In Our Town supports local Muslims after New Zealand attacks

The Not In Our Town group gathered Friday afternoon in support of local Muslims after the attacks in New Zealand. (Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal/Facebook)

 

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The group Not In Our Town hosted a demonstration Friday afternoon in support of local Muslims after the attacks on two New Zealand mosques.

The group gathered outside the Islamic Center of McLean County at 421 Olympia Drive in Bloomington to greet Muslims after Friday morning prayers.

Meanwhile, Illinois Congressmen Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill) took to social media to express their concerns.

CNN reports at least 49 people were killed and 20 were seriously injured during the attacks.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…