VOA常速英语:新西兰穆斯林在清真寺遭遇枪击

The somber Friday prayers for American Muslims, worshipers at the Islamic Center of Washington mourning for victims of the New Zealand mosque shootings. Everyone that like I was around was crying around me while listening for the Qurbah, and I think everyone felt this collective grief for all the victims in New Zealand. The shootings at Christchurch mosques during Friday prayers killed 49 people and wounded dozens of others. The gunman is believed to be an Australian citizen.
The country’s prime minister described the suspect as an extremist right-wing violent terrorist. The White House strongly condemns the attack, calling it a vicious act of hate. It’s a horrible disgraceful thing and a horrible act. President Trump offered US assistance, but did not call the shooting an act of terrorism, nor does he see white nationalism as a rising threat around the world. I don’t really, I think a small group of people that have very very serious problem. The latest data from the Federal Bureau of Investigations shows a 17% increase in reported hate crimes in the US.

The head of American Muslim advocacy organization is holding Trump accountable. Mr. Trump, your words matter. Your policies matter. They impact the lives of innocent people at home and globally. A social media post by an account believed to be the shooter linked the manifesto filled with white supremacist, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments. These shootings are extreme reflections of the increased rise of white nationalism rhetoric.
Metzl believes anti-immigrant and anti-minority political rhetoric have driven white nationalism ideas mainstream. What I worry about is not just these online communities which have been there for a long time, it’s also the ways in which this particular violence against vulnerable minority communities and the rhetoric that underlies it has become much more normalized in our political sphere. In their mourning, Muslim communities in the US are increasing vigilance. In some cities like New York, worshipping is done under heavy police protection.
Pasty Widakuswara, VOA News, at the White House.