Faith Leaders come together in unison against graffiti

faith leadersFaith Leaders from across Rhode Island gather inside the gymnasium of the Islamic School of Rhode Island to show support for the school. Photo by Andrew Augustus, WPRO News.


Andrew Augustus, WPRO News

Leaders of the faith community gathered in the gymnasium at the Islamic School of Rhode Island to stand as one against the person who defaced the school with anti-Islamic graffiti.

“He painted the front and the side doors of the school with the worst and dirtiest words I myself have ever heard, seen, or read,” said principal of the Islamic School of Rhode Island Abdelnasser Hussein.  He added his focus is now on keeping his students safe when they return back to class on Monday.

The vandalism occurred late Saturday night after the school hosted a vigil for three Muslim students at the University of North Carolina who were killed.

The incident is currently under investigation by the West Warwick Police as well as the FBI.

During the event leaders from each religion across the state came together saying the vandalism is only going to bring everyone closer together.

“If you did this to divide us in our interfaith community, you have failed miserably,” said Resident Imam at the North Smithfield Mosque Mufti Ikram.

In a statement, Bishop Thomas Tobin said, “the insults against the school cannot be justified for any reason whatsoever.”

The school will be asking for a police presence when students arrive back to class out of precaution.

Anyone with information on the attack can call the FBI or the West Warwick Police Department.

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