Letters Of Unity Pour In For Muslim Girl Targeted By Hate Speech

What started as a traumatic hate incident has turned into a showcase of support in Framingham. Earlier in the month two hateful and threatening notes were found in a 10-year-old Muslim student's cubby in Hemenway Elementary School.

In the immediate aftermath the district and school were quick to come to the support of the student, denouncing such notes and hate speech. Superintendent Robert Tremblay issued a statement saying "I want to reassure you that the Framingham Public Schools stands with you. We will not accept hate. We will stand united against it."

The school and district were not the only ones listening- the Massachusetts branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) jumped into action, coming to the support of the student and her family and collecting notes of support for her. So far over 500 letters have poured in from all over the country.

"We have letters rolling in everyday by the dozens," Sumaiya Zama said. Zama is the director of community advocacy and education at CAIR and has followed and supported the young student and her family since day one. "The day after the incident I personally made my way out to Framingham to extend support to the girl and her family," Zama said, she added that tomorrow she plans to travel back out to Framingham, this time with good news. She will be toting a box with over 500 letters written directly to the student filed with words of inclusion and support.

Zama says it was was important that the young girl didn't feel alone and that the family knows they have a support system within the community and in CAIR. She says the family is still hopeful that whoever wrote the note will be caught.

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