In the wake of Sunday’s tragic mass shooting targeting a gay club in Orlando, Fla., the city’s residents have lined up for hours to donate blood. One Orlando resident, Mahmoud ElAwadi, an Egyptian Muslim immigrant to the U.S, managed to make the internet smile with a touching Facebook post calling for unity and peace after donating blood.
"Yes my name is Mahmoud a proud Muslim American," the post begins. "Yes I donated blood even though I can't eat or drink anything cause I'm fasting in our holy month Ramadan just like hundreds of other Muslims who donated today here in Orlando."
He continues, "I'm angry for what happened last night and all the innocent lives we lost. Yes I'm sad, frustrated and mad that a crazy guy claim to be a Muslim did that shameful act."
"Together we will stand against hate, terrorism, extremism and racism...Our blood all look the same so get out there and donate blood cause our fellow American citizens are injured and need our blood."
The proud father of two, ElAwadi is the epitome of the American dream. According to Buzzfeed News, he migrated to the U.S. 14 years ago with only one dollar in his pocket and worked his way up from a convenience store clerk to a financial adviser with Merrill Lynch.
ElAwadi credits his success to the people who looked past his race and religion. "The American dream was the people who gave me opportunities just because of who I am as a human being not because of my name or religion but as a man of opportunity," he told Buzzfeed News.
ElAwadi is now giving back to the community that helped him succeed. "As a human this was the least I could for my fellow Americans who were injured,"0 ElAwadi said. "I know they need my blood. I had to give blood."
His post, which has garnered over 300,000 likes and 132,00 shares, ends with a call to action. "Our community in central Florida is heart broken but let's put our colors, religions, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political views all aside so we can UNITE against those who are trying to hurt us."
