Dallas Man Holds Sign of Support outside Islamic Center

A white Texas man in a cowboy hat stood outside a mosque with a sign saying 'You Belong' to show support for Muslims. 

Justin Normand held the sign outside the Islamic Center of Irving in Dallas last weekend after being angered by the hatred directed at Muslims during the recent presidential election.

The 53-year-old made a sign that said: 'You Belong. Stay Strong. Be Blessed. We Are One America.'

Normand, who runs a sign-making business, held the message outside the mosque last Friday and Saturday, for about 90 minutes each day.  

He didn't know anyone at the mosque, but some members who saw his sign thanked him and even offered flowers.

Normand became overwhelmed with the support after someone took a photo of his sign and shared it on social media. 

'I made a sign, and I drove to the nearest mosque and stood out on the public sidewalk to share the peace with my neighbors. My marginalized, fearful, decent, targeted, Muslim neighbors,' he wrote on Facebook.

'Someone took a picture and posted it, and as of today it’s been viewed millions of times, and shared across various platforms many hundreds of thousands of times. 

'This is extraordinary and humbling; mainly because what I did isn’t (or shouldn’t be) all that extraordinary.'

Normand, who is Presbyterian, said he wasn't trying to express outrage at right-wing haters and insisted it wasn't about them. 

'This was about binding up the wounded. About showing compassion and empathy for the hurting and fearful among us,' he wrote.

'It was about what I think I must do as an American when our way of life is threatened. Targeting people for their religion not only threatens our way of life, it is the polar opposite of our way of life. 

'I felt better for the impact it had on my neighbors. They genuinely needed this encouragement. They need us. They need all of us. They need you. We ARE one America.'

The Islamic Center of Irving previously has been the target of armed protesters. - Daily Mail Online