Oregon Veterans for Peace Chapters Condemn Corvallis Islamic Center Arson Attack

“Hate in response to hate does not foster the healing process.” - Bart Bolger, president of the Corvallis Veterans For Peace chapter

Debris from a fire at the Islamic Center in Corvallis sits outside. Credit: Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian

(CORVALLIS) - All five Oregon chapters of Veterans For Peace, a non-profit in its 25th year, representing over 5,000 veterans nationwide, condemn the arson fire attack on the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Center in Corvallis, Oregon early on the morning of November 28, 2010.

This attack must be investigated as a hate crime. It was set in apparent retaliation for the alleged plot by a 19-year-old Oregon State University student, Mohamed Osman Mohamud, to explode a bomb near a tree lighting ceremony in Portland on November 26.

Veterans For Peace abhors violence of any kind, certainly including the alleged Portland attack plot, but also violence targeting innocent groups because of their race, religion, nationality or ethnicity.

According to press reports, Mr. Mohamud was only loosely affiliated with the Corvallis Islamic Center, having occasionally attended services there. The leader of the Islamic Center, Imaam Yosof Wanly, has condemned the Portland plot, saying he “denounced the actions of Mohamed Mohamud.”

Bart Bolger, president of the Corvallis Veterans For Peace chapter, said, “We deplore this vigilante-style attack on the Islamic Center. It was clearly meant to intimidate our Muslim neighbors and was completely contrary to the inclusive and diverse nature of our community.” He added, “Hate in response to hate does not foster the healing process.”

The following Oregon Veterans For Peace chapters endorse this release:

• Portland Chapter 72;
• Corvallis Chapter 132;
• Bandon Chapter 141;
• Rogue Valley Chapter 156;
• Lane County Chapter 159.