RAIS BHUIYAN

Waking up each day with the scars of hate etched into my body and my soul is a painful reminder of the brutal hate crime I endured. Extremism and hate-fueled violence has continued to rise since September 11th, 2001. Far too many lives have been destroyed and lost, families forever broken at the hands of senseless hate. I embarked on a journey to understand the roots of hate and violence. I yearned to discover whether peace and forgiveness could ever prevail and how others find purpose amidst pain.