Dozens of people who live and work downtown gathered at Thanksgiving Square for afternoon prayer on Friday.
Their minds on the deaths of three college students found murdered earlier this week in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The victims - a newlywed couple and the bride's sister - were Muslim.
"Our sermon today - if you could call it that -highlighted the benefit these three people had on their communities and to their American community," said Mousa Salem, who stops at Thanksgiving Square for afternoon prayers.
"To think that three souls were just snatched from us is really sad. It's just really sad."
Salem felt a deep connection to the three students, who were known for being very active in their community.
"Many of the people that attend services here contribute to their local mosques, their local schools, their food bank," said Salem. "As that awareness becomes more prevalent I would think the attitudes toward Muslims would soften."
Prayer vigils honoring the three UNC students are being held across North Texas. One on Thursday on the campus of University of Texas at Dallas drew hundreds of people. Another is scheduled for Friday evening at Dealey Plaza.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"That's exactly how it should be," said Harron Smad, who also gathers for prayer in downtown Dallas. "When there are bad times or good times, people should gather around and show their strength and demonstrate everything peacefully."
The DFW chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relationships is helping organize these vigils along with chapters of the Muslim Students Association.
"I've never seen such a unified coalition of individuals from all different backgrounds come together," said Alia Salem with CAIR.
Slaem said already she has seen a strong, positive response from North Texans concerned over this week's tragedy but CAIR is educating local Muslims to report any possible hate crimes.
