Solidarity in the face of extremism and terror is what we do

Its a sad fact that bad people do bad things rather too often. And when that happens communities stand together in solidarity. Differences are put aside for a time, and for a while our shared humanity is what binds us together. And there is no reason it should not happen in our diverse cities today. In fact I’d argue its the best thing we can do because it flies in the face of the divisive ideologies that plague our world and which drive so much hatred and terror.

Five years ago six Muslims were gunned down at Quebec City Mosque in Canada during evening prayers. Responding to the pain ( You see the pain. ) that still haunts that community Asma, a Muslim friend of mine, is hosting a facebook live session. Asma brings people together around cake and compassion. Peace of Cake Simple stuff. But its what good neighbours do. When one suffers we all suffer whether we bear the label Muslim, Christian or whatever. (Its often been real cake! But sadly for a while Zoom has to do!)

Asma asked me to join her this evening, but sadly I’m not able to. However i was just prompted to write this as a mark of solidarity with those dear people in Quebec.

You see we have learnt the lesson of the importance of solidarity lesson in Luton. We’ve had our problems with extremism here trying to pull the town’s community apart.. But a long time ago we realised that as people of faith we had to stake our a place of solidarity in our community where we stood together despite what bad people threw at us.

So when the terror struck Auckland there years ago this banner went up outside churches around town.

Closer to home, when Britain First have visited Luton with their horrible message of hate the Churches worked hard to say they did not represent us. And before that as we dealt with the English Defence League (EDL) being headquartered here we stood together as community. This blog records various activities back to 2017, bub they date back many more years.

Its gone both ways. As Churches we have received tremendous kindness from Muslim friends when terror has been aimed at churches around the world.

And looking at the less dramatic, its what we do when our MP’s suffer abuse for the their faith. And when we hear of abuse and hatred in a school. Or wherever. We stand together.

As Muslim friends in Quebec grieve again, can I ask my Christian friends to pray for their comfort. And why not write a letter of solidarity? Its very easy

Thanks.