Muslim Women Form Human Chain in Defiance Against London Attack

Women, mostly Muslim, gathered along the Westminster Bridge Sunday evening, to show solidarity with the victims of last week’s attack on the bridge.

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The protest, organized by the Women’s March’s London chapter, saw nearly 100 women gather to form a human chain, all dressed in blue as a symbol of hope.

Chaos broke out outside the Palace of Westminster Wednesday, leaving at least four people dead and dozens more injured in the shooting incident.

The dead included the assailant, Khalid Masood, and the police officer he stabbed, while the other two victims were among the pedestrians hit by the car as it tore along Westminster Bridge before crashing into railings just outside parliament.

Ayesha Malik, one of the women who showed up Sunday, told Metro newspaper that: “As a visible Muslim I think it was important to show solidarity with the principles that we all hold dear, the principles of plurality, diversity and so on.”

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Fariha Khan, another protester, said: “The feeling of what happened here on Wednesday was really strong. We thought of the ordinary people who were here and were mown down, standing here like this, it was very overwhelming.”

Another Muslim-led initiative to raise money for the victims of the attack had already raised US $17,000 in its first 24 hours. The campaign was launched Wednesday night by Muddassar Ahmed, a businessman trapped in a Westminster building during the incident.

A statement on the fundraising page, titled Muslims United for London, reads: “The British Muslim community stands with the community during these difficult times and extends their support in raising funds to help with the immediate, short-term needs of the families of Keith Palmer, the other victims and the families of the victims."