New Zealand Mosque Attack: What Happened and What You Can Do

What Happened

• At least 49 people were killed and another 48 were injured during shootings at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. Friday morning is a Muslim holy day, when many gather to worship at mosques. The massacres have been deemed terrorist attacks.

• A 28-year-old Australian man is in custody, charged with murder, along with three others who might be connected to the attacks. The man has been described by officials as a “right-wing extremist terrorist” and is said to have written a manifesto outlining his white supremacist worldview.
• As Vox reports, “One shooter live-streamed his attack on social media, gruesomely displaying how he entered the mosque and shot innocents.”
• Police have been deployed around the world to provide protection at mosques in fear of copycat attacks. Various communities have responded with solidarity, including non-Muslims showing their support at local mosques.
• The massacre highlights a trend of increased Islamophobic and anti-Semitic attacks, along with hate-based violence against other groups and law enforcement’s failure to adequately address white nationalism.

On behalf of the DoSomething staff and community, our hearts go out to the victims, their families, Muslim communities around the world, and all those affected by gun violence and hate. We thank the first responders, medical staff, and all those responding to this tragedy with action and hope.

What You Can Do

When something like this happens, it’s easy to feel hopeless and to lose a little faith in humanity. But, in the words of Mr. Rogers:

“My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”

In times of tragedy and adversity, look to the helpers -- and, if you’re able, become one yourself. Below are some ways you can respond to this tragedy with love, hope, and action.

1. Get the facts. Follow sources like @NYTimes for credible updates and ongoing information. Avoid misinformation: In the livestream of the massacre, the shooter says, “Subscribe to PewDiePie,” a reference to an ongoing race for most popular YouTube channel between T-Series and PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg. PewDiePie released a statement on Twitter stating, “I feel absolutely sickened having my name uttered by this person. My heart and thoughts go out to the victims, families and everyone affected by this tragedy.” Commenters have pointed out that the terrorist calling out PewDiePie was a calculated move to create more division and hatred.

2. Practice self-care. Experiencing discrimination or even seeing it on the news can create symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder: shock, anger, sadness, guilt, or other feelings. Read our Coping With Discrimination guide.

And remember that self-care is different for every person. As our friends at Shine Text say, “Your version of self-care might look really different than what others do, and that’s okay. Be honest about what your needs are and what works for you. Give yourself all you’ve got, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

If you’re in crisis and need someone to talk to immediately, please reach out to our friends at Crisis Text Line by texting HELP to 741741.

3. Reach out to your Muslim friends and/or send a card of support to a mosque near you. One of the best things you can do is show support for those around you. Reach out to your Muslim friends and let them know you’re thinking of them. Send flowers or a card to your local mosque. Your love means so much to communities facing their darkest hours.

4. Flag and report social media posts that glamorize the shooter and their message of hate. While the original Facebook Live video that the shooter took has been taken down, white supremacists have been sharing the shooter’s video, image, and white-supremacist manifesto. Flag and report this content to stop their messages of violence and hate from spreading.