PALMYRA — When nearly 3,000 people perished at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field a decade ago, the perception of Muslims and the religion they’ve practiced for centuries went from bad to worse.
While the horrific events of that day can never be reversed, a group of Muslims is engaged this month in a nationwide blood drive to change the perception of Islam from a religion associated with violence to one that values life.
On Sunday, those efforts continued locally, with a blood drive at the Islamic Center of South Jersey in Palmyra.
“Irrespective of what faith or religion we are, this was an attack on America,” said Imran Bhutta, who helped coordinate the drive at the center. “We as Americans feel solidarity with our fellow Americans, particularly with the victims of 9/11.”
The goal of the blood drive dubbed “Muslims for Life” is to collect 10,000 units of blood from people across the country. Organizers expect the donations to help save 30,000 lives — or 10 times the number of lives lost because of the actions of radical Muslims.
Muslims lead blood drives to repair rift | Courier-Post | courierpostonline.com