Vigil Planned for This Tuesday In Honor of Young Boy Killed in Plainfield Hate Crime

To skip directly to the vigil and fund raiser information, look for the bold text below.

What happed on Saturday will go down as one of the most evil events in this area’s history. Six year old Wadea Al-Fayoume, a boy who presumably has absolutely no concept of the tensions playing out around the world, was unjustly made to pay the cost at the hands of a psychopath. His mother fighting for her own life.

A family has been shaken to the core. A community that was is on edge has had that fear validated in the most horrifying way.

Muslim people are scared. Jewish people are scared. Hell, a lot of us are scared for our brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors. There’s a lot of fear to go around these days.

If you are a sane person, you don’t need me to tell you how terrible this is and how it shouldn’t happen. You already know.
If you are an insane person who can’t empathies with this family and the community they are a part of, then there’s probably nothing I can say to change your mind either.

Here are two truths that I subscribe too, though.

1) One of the ways to fight back against people who are capable of hate is to not be that person. Be kind, be accepting. Be the opposite of this guy.
2) Show those that have to live this fear everyday that not everyone harbors hate. Show them that the vast majority of us want them to be safe, happy and lead whatever life they choose to lead. You may already think that, but actively showing it is the important part.

One way to to do that is a vigil being planned for this Tuesday night at 8:00 at the Prairie Recreation and Athletics Complex on Renwick Road. The event is still being finalized, but if you’d like to show up, write that in pencil on your calendar. The community will gather to honor the young life lost and to show that love, acceptance and unity are still the values that the community embraces.

There’s also a fundraiser in effect to help cover janazah (funeral) costs and ensure the speediest of recoveries for the mother.