Statement on the Recent Vandalism of Our MCC

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Dear MCC Community,

We are shaken by the incidents over the Labor day weekend where we discovered damage to multiple doors of our beloved Muslim Community Center (Elston), resulting from acts of vandalism. While the motives remain unclear, we feel the pain of the community - this act is horrifying, and we all feel violated.

We want to reassure the community that the MCC Security Committee, in collaboration with the Chicago Police Department and CAIR, has been closely monitoring the investigation. As part of our security plan, the Chicago Police have increased their patrols in the surrounding area, including extra plain clothes officers and more squad cars parked and patrolling at various high-traffic areas around MCC. Lt. Heather Daniel of the Chicago Police Department has assured us that the investigation is being taken very seriously and is being viewed through the lens of a hate crime.

In these challenging times when Islamophobia is rampant, we all feel tired and exhausted by the constant attacks and very real threats to our community. It is more important than ever for us to take care of each other and remain vigilant. As a reminder, we have armed security at both Masjids during Salaah times and programs, and our security upgrade projects are well underway, which include higher quality cameras for all three buildings.

As one of the oldest mosques in Chicago and a founding organization for many other mosques, our MCC is not just a place of worship but a cornerstone of our community and a significant part of the history of Muslims in America. It is our collective responsibility to protect this trust. We must all remain calm but alert for the safety of our community and our MCC.

MCC will continue to work to make sure we never feel unwelcome in our home and in our community centers. Please continue to report any suspicious or concerning activity to Masjid staff. Let us watch out for each other and maintain an elevated awareness of our surroundings.

Masood Bijapuri

Masood Bijapuri

MCC President