Authorities are still trying to determine the motive in the shooting deaths of three young Muslims in Chapel Hill. Police believe the crime may have been the result of a dispute over a parking space.
But many in the Muslim community are worried that religion may end up being an important factor. Imam Khalid Griggs, an Associate Chaplain for Muslim Life at Wake Forest University, is among those who are concerned the killings may be a hate crime.
Griggs says anti-Muslim rhetoric in the country is running high. Griggs has been a target of that sentiment recently, as a Wake Forest alumnus has started an online campaign that has questioned his hiring.
Griggs says the killings were not just a crime against the Muslim community.
"It's against anyone of humane character and intentions, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, here in Winston-Salem and across the country," he says. "Everyone should decry this kind of execution style murder."
After such a tragedy, peace in the community comes from finding a common humanity regardless of peoples' faith.
"Those avenues are always open, but we have to remove as much emotion from those events as we possibly can," he says.
Griggs says the widespread emails that have targeted him over the years, which includes a recent mass-mailing to thousands of alumni, is a systematic attempt to besmirch his name.
"It's not just me personally, but the target itself is Islam," he says.
On Wednesday, Wake Forest President Nathan Hatch released a statement of support for Griggs, calling him an experienced, well-respected religious leader.
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