WATCH: Hundreds Link Arms to Symbolically Guard New Zealand Mosque During Friday Prayers
One week after the unthinkable massacre at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, hundred of people gathered together to show their rejection of the hatred and violence by linking arms and standing guard during Friday prayers.
ABC News reported on Twitter early Friday that hundreds formed the human chain, locking arms around a mosque in Wellington, to “symbolically shield” Muslim worshipers who were gathered for Friday prayers.
In this video, you can hear only the clicking of cameras as the crowd observes the nationwide two-minutes of silence.
#WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/deyRGrUaCn
— Paul Eagle MP (@pauleaglenz) March 22, 2019
ABC’s video:
Hundreds of people locked arms, forming a human chain around a mosque in Wellington, New Zealand, symbolically shielding Muslims during Friday prayers, one week after 50 people were killed in Christchurch terror attack. https://t.co/pEY7pzN2sC pic.twitter.com/g22Zb7g1FV
— ABC News (@ABC) March 22, 2019
Twitter users, including both media and members of the government in addition to citizens, shared photos of the event.
Human chain forming around Wellington mosque before Friday prayer pic.twitter.com/h2ooe3INs4
— Veronika Meduna (@VeronikaMeduna) March 22, 2019
Large crowd gathering at Kilbirnie mosque. #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/uEKzNN9Svp
— Paul Eagle MP (@pauleaglenz) March 22, 2019
The line goes around the block! pic.twitter.com/wuYtcxnzAs
— Paul Eagle MP (@pauleaglenz) March 22, 2019
There were thousands of New Zealanders visited the Kilbirnie Mosque in Wellington today. They formed a human chain around the mosque to protect muslims that were performing the Friday prayers. ❤️ NZ even broadcast Azan nationally today in solidarity with the Muslims ?? #Aroha pic.twitter.com/tukUjG8oPz
— Nur Natasha Faziera (@tasha_faz) March 22, 2019
Arohanui Muslim whānau ❤️ As salaam alaikum – 100's of people atand in solidarity around the block of Wellington's Islamic Community centre and Mosque. #WeAreOne https://t.co/ecbTZtbcvw
— Teri O'Neill (@TeriONeillNZ) March 22, 2019
Outside the Kilbirnie Mosque in Wellington.
Thousands of people were there today to show their solidarity with the Muslim community as they attended their Friday afternoon prayers: https://t.co/eao8gPD7qq pic.twitter.com/tsNObvWjT6
— RNZ (@radionz) March 22, 2019
#Wellington in solidarity in their hundreds at #kilbirnie #mosque as #NewZealand remembers the #ChristchurchMosqueAttack with a human chain around the entire block the mosque is in and two minutes of silence today #StrongerTogether #aroha pic.twitter.com/rz8yQmuuKn
— Sue Teodoro (@SueTeodoro) March 22, 2019
The International Muslim Association of New Zealand issued a press release on Thursday announcing the gathering.
The mosque is expecting a huge congregation of Muslims, but also many people of other faiths and of no particular faith.
Several groups from other faiths will be conducting their own interfaith prayers and vigils alongside the mosque.
In a symbolic act of solidarity, a human chain of volunteers is being created to protect the Muslims praying inside the mosque. They will stand in place from 1.15pm until the last Muslim has left the mosque.
The Muslim call to prayer was broadcast nationwide in New Zealand on Friday, ahead of the two minutes of silent memorial.
[Featured image via screengrab]
