After the horrific shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida that killed 49 people Sunday morning, there was an incredible outpouring of goodwill from local residents. Hundreds came out to donate over 600 units of blood in the first day after the shooting. One such donor was Mahmoud ElAwadi, a 36-year-old Egyptian immigrant who, as a Muslim, took the opportunity to use his donation as a sign of unity.
He posted a photo on Facebook of his arm with blood oozing out through surgical tubing and, in the comments, poured out his heart for the victims. “I’m angry for what happened last night and all the innocent lives we lost,” he wrote. “I’m sad, frustrated and mad that a crazy guy claim to be a Muslim did that shameful act.” His donation was especially meaningful because he gave while fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Although he was gravely upset by the shooting, ElAwadi was inspired by the people he saw volunteering at the blood bank. “This is the greatest nation on Earth watching people from different a ages including kids volunteering to give water, juice, food, umbrellas, sun block,” he wrote. “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.”
Here’s his full post:
-Yes my name is Mahmoud a proud Muslim American .
-Yes I donated blood even though I can’t eat or drink anything cause I’m fasting in our holy month Ramadan just like hundreds of other Muslims who donated today here in Orlando .
-Yes I’m angry for what happened last night and all the innocent lives we lost .
-Yes I’m sad , frustrated and mad that a crazy guy claim to be a Muslim did that shameful act.
-Yes I witnessed the greatness of this country watching thousands of people standing in 92 degree sun waiting on their turn to donate blood even after they were told that the wait time is 5-7 hours .
-Yes this is the greatest nation on earth watching people from different a ages including kids volunteering to give water , juice , food , umbrellas , sun block. 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 .
-Yes together we will stand against hate , terrorism , extremism and racism .
-Yes our blood all look the same so get out there and donate blood cause our fellow American citizens are injured and need our blood .
Yes our community in central Florida is heart broken but let’s put our colors , religions , ethnicity , sexual orientation , political views all aside so we can UNITE against those who are trying to hurt us.
ElAwadi is a financial advisor who came to the U.S. 14 years ago in search of opportunity. “The American dream was the people who gave me opportunities just because of who I am as a human being not because of my name or religion but as a man of opportunity,” he told Buzzfeed News. “Look at my blood…It’s not different from anyone’s blood. We’re humans at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter what we believe in and what our name is that’s what we are at the end of the day.”
