UNITY

Joplin Rallies Behind Mosque

After one was destroyed by a fire.

Residents of Joplin, Missouri, have had their fair share of trouble. So when a local mosque was burnt down in what the community considers a hate crime, locals came by the hundreds to show support for the Muslim community. The mosque had also been a relief center during the 2011 tornado which killed 161 and destroyed 8,000 buildings. The Islamic Society of Joplin spokeswoman Kimberly Kester says $406,000 has been raised to rebuild the mosque—almost double their goal. "There are really no words we can use to convey how appreciative we are and how much this means to us," she said. "Everyone is coming together to be a stronger community."