The mosque is called the Islamic Center of Virginia. It’s located off Buford Road in Chesterfield County.
As some people drove pass the mosque, they noticed the sign and were pleasantly surprised about the message that was written.
The message read:
Muslims are not our enemy. Hate is the enemy. We love the people who worship here. -Your Bon Air Neighbors”
“Maybe that was something that the community members thought was necessary to put there and to make us feel like it’s OK to keep coming, your community is here for you and they are supportive. So I thought that was very nice,” says Juwairiah Abdus-Saboor who prays at the mosque.
The anonymous messenger has support from others in the community.
“You see these videos online about hate and stuff like that and how they are all terrorists, it’s not true. So it’s very relieving,” says Matt Lahm who works in Chesterfield County.
“I think a lot of people when they dress a certain way, or have a certain religion, they get bad mouthed or fussed at, and I think it’s not fare to them,” says Sharon Flournoy who lives near the mosque.
It’s a simple sign on the side of the road that is sending a message of solidarity.
“Of course this is not what extremists want to hear, that we can all get along and diversity works. When we find the good that we have in common with other people, it makes it a pleasure to live with them, work with them and learn from them,” says Imam Ammar Amoneppe with the mosque.
ABC