Last week, Lebanese-American Khalid Jabara was allegedly murdered at gunpoint by his neighbor Vernon Majors, a tragic culmination of years of harassment.
Following his death, a group launched a crowdfunding campaign to help the Jabara family seek justice. The funds would cover legal fees, the funeral and compensation for Jabara's family.
Linda Sarsour, a Palestinian-American activist living in the United States, kickstarted the campaign on August 16, days after Khalid's murder. The campaign has already exceeded its $15,000 goal.
"We will not be silent. Let's stand against hate and show our support for Khalid and his family," the campaign says .
Majors nearly killed Khalid's mother in a hit-and-run last year, shortly after calling the family "filthy Lebanese," according to The Washington Post .
Jabara took precautionary measures when he learned Majors was released from jail and was now armed. Unfortunately, the "police came and told him there was nothing to be done," Victoria Jabara Williams, his sister, wrote in a Facebook post .
Alongside the crowdfunding campaign, the hashtag # Justice4Khalid quickly spread with many sending their thoughts and prayers to the Jabara family.
People are definitely pointing fingers
And the circumstances surrounding the death are causing outrage
Others want to know why this isn't being considered a "terror attack"
But most fell into despair and heartbreak
And words just don't seem to cut it
Because we need more than a hashtag to combat hate
"At the end of the day, my beautiful brother had a heart like no other. Sensitive to the core, he loved others so much and wanted to be loved back. I'll miss his jokes (I stole all my jokes from him!), his love for all things electronic, his love for my mom and dad, Rami and his tenderness towards his nieces. This angel will be missed. Love you, Khalid," Williams wrote.