On March 14, New York City Muslims were putting their families to bed when details emerged of a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, about 15,000 kilometers away. A white supremacist had targeted Friday prayer. Fifty were dead, including refugees, women and children; one as young as three.
Brooklyn residents Mohammad Khan and Nazrul Islam were returning from a leadership dinner when they heard.
"We stopped our car, we parked, and we were just in tears," Khan said. "Me and the imam — we were just devastated."
For months, Khan and Islam, an imam and a Quranic school principal, had been working on the rollout of an all volunteer-led civilian patrol organization, Muslim Community Patrol & Services (MCPS). "MCPS is aimed at protecting members of the local community from escalating quality-of-life nuisance crimes," its website says.
Its mission took on added relevance after the attack in New Zealand.
Traumatized members of the community, who had seen video of the attack on social media, sought help from MCPS at local vigils and rallies. The organization responded with trained counselors and chaplains.
'Here for everyone'
On a white-and-blue emblazoned Ford Taurus, a seal matching the style and color scheme of the New York Police Department (NYPD) identifies the MCP volunteer unit. Above it, the words "Assalamu alaikum" are inscribed in Arabic. "Peace be upon you."
Patrolling the streets is just one aspect of the group's mission. Its guiding principle is mentorship, said Khan, MCPS' director of community affairs. Mentorship can be provided in person or by phone, 24/7, with the aim of bridging the community across religious, ethnic and language divides. New York is one of the most diverse cities in the world.
"If an immigrant came to this country from an Arabic-speaking country — and they might be in trouble or they need help — and they see Assalamu alaikum," Islam, 28, explained, "they'll definitely know there are Muslim people in that car, so they can come and they can ask us if they need anything."
MCPS' 50-plus volunteers are never armed, and they are trained to deal with crises including drug abuse, financial woes, depression and suicide prevention. They are trained in first aid, mental health, chaplaincy and basic security. Every Friday they deliver meals to the homeless in midtown Manhattan. Serving both Muslims and non-Muslims, they speak English, Arabic, Bangla, Urdu, Hindi and "some Polish."
Mahwish Fathma, director of operations for MCPS, says other civilian patrol groups in Brooklyn have served as an inspiration for the group. VOA