Uniting for a good cause. Muslim American man Mahmoud ElAwadi was moved to donate blood in the wake of the deadly shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, June 12. A photo of his donation went viral thanks to a compassionate message.
Despite the fact that ElAwadi is fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, he came out to give blood for the victims of the most deadly mass shooting in American history, which left 49 dead and 53 wounded.
“Yes my name is Mahmoud a proud Muslim American,” he wrote in a now viral Facebook post, shared on Sunday, June 12.
And he wasn’t alone. “I donated blood even though I can’t eat or drink anything cause I’m fasting … just like hundreds of other Muslims who donated today here in Orlando.”
While the Florida resident, who is a vice president at Merrill Lynch, is upset by the actions carried out by suspect Omar Mateen, he remains hopeful for the future. “I’m angry for what happened last night and all the innocent lives we lost…frustrated and mad that a crazy guy [who] claims to be a Muslim did that shameful act,” he wrote in the post, which has now been shared nearly 200,000 times. “[But] I witnessed the greatness of this country watching thousands of people sanding in 92-degree sun waiting on their turn to donate blood even after they were told the wait time is 5-7 hours.”
His post went on to explain why he’s proud to be American. “Yes this is the greatest nation on earth watching people from different ages including kids volunteering to give water, juice, food, umbrellas, sunblock. Also watching our old veterans coming to donate and next to them Muslim women in hijab carrying food and water to donors standing in line … together we will stand against hate, terrorism, extremism and racism,” he wrote. “Our blood all looks the same, so get out there and donate cause our fellow American citizens are injured and need [it].”
At the end, ElAwadi called for everyone to come together. “Our community in central Florida is heartbroken, but let’s put our colors, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political views all aside so we can UNITE against those who are trying to hurt us,” he concluded.
