05/19/2026
Yesterday, two local teenagers with Islamophobic motives attempted to attack ICSD's Islamic School. While all children and teachers are safe, three community members were murdered in the process. Particularly noteworthy among the victims was security guard Amin Abdullah, a father of eight and anchor in the Southeast San Diego community, whose self-sacrificial bravery saved the lives of the children on campus that day.
An interfaith community vigil will be held tonight at 6:30pm at Lindbergh Neighborhood Park and you are encouraged to attend.
Hatred and violence of all forms are always, always wrong, and always worthy of mourning, but this one hits especially close to home: Imam Taha Hassane, the community's spiritual leader, has been a close friend to many of our clergy, and the community has graciously offered their wisdom to our confirmands, welcoming our children with great hospitality as they explored their own relationship to faith and spirituality. They have been generous teachers and gracious sojourners with us on the journey of faith.
We also hold a special obligation to stand in solidarity with the people of ICSD in this moment. While Kensington Community Church is not generally a place where you will find Islamophobia, it is plainly true that Islamophobia in the United States is often spread in the name of the religion we profess and the Christ around whom we center our worship. Even when we do not participate in hate like this, we benefit from the fact that the perpetuators of this hate have a bias towards communities like ours. We do not have to budget for bulletproof windows, armed security guards, and a fortified perimeter the way that Islamic and Hebrew communities and their schools do. Our holidays are on the public calendar; we get time off from work and school to celebrate Christmas and to gather for Sunday services because we are in a world that so often prefers Christianity while hating our neighbors of other faiths.
Which is why showing up tonight if you are able is both an invitation and, to some extent, an obligation. As followers of Jesus, we are called to mourn with those who mourn, and as Christians in a country shaped by Christian privilege, we owe our Muslim siblings our visible, public solidarity when violence comes for them.
Our clergy are in the middle of making arrangements to attend, and we have confirmed that a number of Partnership church clergy will be joining as well. You are encouraged to join if you are able.
