Local vigil held for slain Muslim teen

The fatal attack of 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen has sparked heavy conversations and vigils all over the country, including Garfield Park Community Church in Santa Cruz.

“I feel really bad about what happened to her,” said Angel Dominguz of Santa Cruz.

Officials said Hassanen was walking back to a Virginia mosque after having a pre-dawn meal with friends for Ramadan. The group encountered 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres who was driving on the road. An argument escalated and he attached Hassanen with a baseball bat, she died of blunt force trauma. Her body was found in a pond.

“The area in which she was killed is actually an area that I used to live,” said Sarah Smith of Santa Cruz. “Friends of mine have passed by investigations and things like that and it’s a very somber space right now.”

Police said it was an act of road rage, others are calling it a hate crime.

“To try to pretend like it was road rage, it really is a cop out,” said Garfield Park Community Church lead pastor Christopher Drury. “Even if it’s road rage, there was something in this gentlemen that devalued her as a person.”

Sunday’s sermon at Garfield Park Community Church focused on standing with Muslims and not hate. According to Hate Crime Statistics, anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States have risen 67 percent in the last year.

“I don’t know that there’s any new bigotry that’s emerging in America,” said Drury. “I think it’s just more proud now. I think people are proud of their racism now.”

Church attendees said while it’s difficult to confront and talk about Hassanen’s death and discrimination facing some Muslim communities, it’s necessary.

“I have Muslim family and so it’s very important that we have a voice that is loud, that is counter to Islam being our enemy,” said Smith.

Tithes and offering from the service will be donated to Hassanen family.