Sweet solidarity: City gathers to support Muslim community

On the same day President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily banning entry to the United States to citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, residents of Davis turned out by the hundreds to support their Muslim neighbors and friends.

The midday gathering in Central Park on Friday was organized by Davis resident Kate Mellon-Anibaba and the Davis Phoenix Coalition in the wake of last weekend’s vandalism at the Islamic Center of Davis.

“The community needs to come together,” said Mellon-Anibaba, founder of the organization Statement of Love, which also organized community support for the center after it received a hate-filled letter in November.

Come together the community has.

Davis Imam Ammar Shahin told the crowd of hundreds Friday that within hours of the vandalism being reported last weekend — vandalism by an as-yet unidentified woman that included numerous broken windows and damaged bicycles — more than $14,000 had been donated for repairs.