12 MARCH 21, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
A welcome message of unity in Queens
Many Americans seem to think
that the motto of this country
is “In God We Trust.” In
reality, however, the motto is actually
E pluribus unum, which is Latin for
“Out of many, one.”
When you think about it, Queens is
the embodiment of E pluribus unum.
Here are seemingly all the nations of
the world — from every background,
every race, every creed, everything
you can possibly think of — together
in one place, looking for a better life
for themselves and their families.
Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights
has become the borough’s equivalent
of Union Square in Manhattan — a
place where residents come together
not only to celebrate life, but also to
grieve during times of turmoil.
Hundreds again gathered there
on March 16 to mourn the 51 people
murdered at mosques by a bigoted
gunman in Christchurch, New
Zealand. This crime — in which
Muslims were slaughtered while
they were praying on their sabbath
— shook peace-loving people all over
the world to the core.
Those gathered at Diversity
EDITORIAL
Mourners gathered at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights on March 16 for a vigil in memory of the 51 people
murdered at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand the previous day. Photo by Dean Moses
Plaza on Saturday night felt the
same. By candlelight, they grieved
together, wept together and prayed
together with representatives of
different faiths in the community.
They stood side by side while
hearing empowering speeches
from local elected officials and
community leaders denouncing the
violence but also resolving not to
let the bloodshed change who they
are as people.
It was an inspiring vigil — one
of several public statements that
occurred in Queens in the wake
of the Christchurch massacre in
which residents renounced hate
and resolved to stick together as
one community.
The Jamaica Muslim Center prayed
for those lost on a day in which they
were to celebrate the renaming of an
adjacent street corner in their honor.
Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz led her own vigil for the
Christchurch victims on the steps
of Borough Hall in Kew Gardens.
Residents also gathered in Kew
Gardens Hills to denounce anti-
Semitism in America amid a surge
in recent hate crimes across the
city and country. They, too, pledged
to combat hatred in all its forms
and promote tolerance among
all people.
Our borough has its share of
skirmishes and disagreements. We
are not without crime, prejudice
and violence. Relative to the world,
however, ours is a peaceful corner
of the globe. The vast majority of
Queens residents work hard to live
together and succeed.
Out of the many communities in
Queens, we are one as a borough.
We will always promote a peaceful
co-existence with each other, and we
will never accept anything less.
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ESTABLISHED 1908
Co-Publishers
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA SCHNEPS
Editor-in-Chief
ROBERT POZARYCKI
Classifi ed Manager
DEBORAH CUSICK
Assistant Classifi ed Manager
MARLENE RUIZ
Reporters
EMILY DAVENPORT
MARK HALLUM
CARLOTTA MOHAMED
BILL PARRY
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STORY:
Man shot on the platform at a Forest
Hills train station, cops canvass for
suspects
SUMMARY:
Police are investigating a shooting at
a Forest Hills train platform on the
morning of Friday, March 15, that left
a man injured.
REACH:
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