Grieving Boiseans and members of the refugee community gathered Monday night to pray, hold vigil and deliver white flowers for the victims of Saturday鈥檚 mass stabbing.
About 2,500 people attended the quickly-organized event outside of city hall. Many expressed shock, hurt and anger at the brutal attack that .
Bushra Mohammed from Yemen is friends with the family of the three-year-old who was killed. She wiped away tears as she described the painful past two days.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard to know that something this horrible has happened in our beautiful city鈥攚here many of us come here for safety,鈥� said Mohammed. 鈥淲e just never thought something like this would happen here.鈥�
鈥淲e were really close with the family and just knowing that she鈥檚 no longer here really hurts,鈥� Mohammed said, choking up.
Islamic faith leaders, refugee coordinators and Mayor Dave Bieter addressed the somber crowd with a mix of grief and gratitude for the outpouring of community support.
Some held signs with phrases like, 鈥淟ove Wins.鈥� One poster, held up by a 16-year-old boy who said he witnessed the attack, read, 鈥淚 will never forget seeing my friends getting stabbed in front of me.鈥� Alwaleed Abdullah and Fatimah Abbood also came to honor the victims, who were their friends and former neighbors. The Iraqi couple were supposed to get married on Sunday, the day after the brutal stabbing. But they called the wedding off when they heard the upsetting news.
鈥淲hen that incident happened we just decided that we cannot do it,鈥� said Abdullah. 鈥淲e emotionally feel like we are not ready to do it, with all of the injured people in the hospital.鈥�
The couple plans to reschedule the wedding when the remaining eight victims leave the hospital.
Kibrom Milash, owner of Boise鈥檚 only Ethiopian restaurant asked the crowd to take a moment鈥檚 prayer for Ruya Kadir, the three-year old girl who died. Mayor Bieter also delivered a message of unity support.
鈥淭he best way to counter the heinous act of a few days ago is with an overwhelming show of kindness and support for each other,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 random act from someone outside our community does not define us. But what will define us as a community is how that suffering brings us together.鈥滿untaga Bah, President of the Islamic Center of Boise said he was shaken by the tragedy, especially after visiting the hospitalized victims.
鈥淚 was able to see the families today,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was really disheartening what I saw.鈥�
Bah said that in more than 30 years living in Boise, he has not once felt unsafe. He concluded his remark with a saying in Arabic often spoken at Islamic funerals.
鈥淚nna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un,鈥� he said, voice quavering. 鈥淭hat means: we all belong to Allah, and to him we shall return.鈥�
Cynthia Limber from Boise said she hopes the refugee community feels supported and welcome, despite the attack.
鈥淪howing up and being part of the masses makes me feel a tiny bit better, and hopefully it brings some comfort to the people who are affected,鈥� Limber said.
The International Rescue Committee in Boise helped plan the vigil. The group鈥檚 director, Julianne Donnelly Tzul, spoke near the end of the ceremony. She , which will be used to pay for medical costs and other expenses for the victims and their families.
鈥淎 humble and profound thank you for your love of your neighbor and fellow community members,鈥� Tzul said. 鈥淧lease keep that going, Boise.鈥�
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Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio
This story was produced in part by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, Yellowstone Public Radio in Montana, KUER in Salt Lake City and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.
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