This Texas man has a powerful message for all American Muslims

As authorities in Los Angeles search for the authors of a series of threatening letters sent to mosques, this man’s message is giving hope to Muslims across America.



Justin Normand, 53, from Texas was photographed holding a sign on the side of a road outside the Islamic Center of Irving, that read: “You Belong. Stay Strong. Be Blessed. We Are One America.”

https://twitter.com/CharlesFinch/status/802549990451073024

A passerby snapped and shared Normand’s photo on Twitter on Saturday, after which it went viral. The man had been standing outside the mosque with his sign for days, a representative for the Islamic centre told The Washington Post.

Identifying himself as the man in the photo, Normand said in Facebook post that he wanted to show support for the local Muslim community after Donald Trump was elected president following an anti-Muslim, hate-inducing campaign.

Normand said the gesture was about “binding up the wounded.” He said he wanted to share peace with his neighbors. “My marginalised, fearful, decent, targeted, Muslim neighbours.”



“I can never, and will never, change any of the haters. It’s not about them. Not this time, and not here.”  “This is about what I think I must do as an American when our way of life is threatened. Targeting people for their religion not only threatens our way of life, it is the polar opposite of our way of life.” He added.

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This article originally appeared on The Huffington Post