#mosque attack

Words cannot describe what I feel. My heart goes out to all of the families who have lost someone dear to them.

This is an awful and tragic attrocity which I didn’t think I would ever experience in my lifetime in New Zealand, especially in my own city. My heart breaks for everyone effected.

I’m so sorry this has happened. Kia Kaha Christchurch. I send my love to the Muslim community in New Zealand and all over the world.

New Zealand media are not blaming mental health, and are not making excuses for the shooters actions. This has also been refered to as a terrorist attack since only hours after it took place.

I've been watching news coverage for two days, and the only time they've said his name was when his identity was confirmed, and a further second time when they were giving a recap.

No video from the shooters Livestream has been televised in New Zealand, and all images of the shooter have been blurred.

Focus has not been on the shooter himself. The focus has been on the Muslim community, and preventing any further terrorist acts. This includes tightening of already strict gun laws and radicalisation through social media.

No one here has mentioned pewdiepie.

There has been no stories about the shooters life previously, only a couple minutes of filler footage of reaction of people from his home town.

His manifesto has not been broadcast, and is also not available on any mainstream news sites.

Media outside of the country have done horrible things, pointing fingers, showing footage, and many other disrespectful things. I'm disgusted with what I've seen from international media relating to this horrific event.

I ask that you please stop using us as a comparison for why America and other counties need to change, for just a moment. Respect the lives lost because of this terrible event, and give the families and friends of those people time to greave before using this event as a political measuring stick.

New Zealand is not a home of gun violence, terrorism, and mass killings. This event has effected everyone from our country in one way or another, and we need to spread love for everyone, especially our Muslim community.

No one dares to call it a terror attack ! WHY?

[EDIT] They were so slow to call it a terror attack!

A group of white men drove past the mosque, shouted Islamophobic stuff, attacked a man, and got away.

This was not the fault of Pewdiepie. Pewdiepie is an asshole, yes, but it was the fault of the terrorist. Real people died because of this attack and blaming celebrities helps no-one.

This is not about ironic fascism. Ironic fascism is a problem, but this is about real, actual Islamophobia causing real, actual deaths. It is not about our petty internet wars, it is a real battle with real casualties. I’m sorry for my reactions earlier today and my heart goes out to the victims of the attack. I can’t even imagine what that would be like, losing that many people, especially in a small country like New Zealand. I have classmates, acquaintances, and friends who are Muslim and I would hate to see any harm come to them.

That being said.

Do not share the killer’s image; do not share the killer’s name; do not share the killer’s manifesto. Do not encourage the humanization of a mass murderer.

I’m not sure I’ve figured out what my feelings are, I’ve been drawing a lot. I really don’t want to shit on the way people want to express their love and care, but I also want to be able to have conversations about white supremacy, and to be able to listen when people talk about racism, without getting defensive or overly guilt-ridden. It’s a lot of learning.

These are important to read:

We warned you. We begged. We pleaded. And now we demand accountability – Anjum Rahman

Four things you should do following the Christchurch terror attacks – Saziah Bashir