The front page article in Wednesday’s Daily, “Anti-Muslim graffiti stuns Campustown,” was, to say the least, disturbing news.

Like Mr. Tamim and Mr. Mahayni, we believe Ames to be an accepting community.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce purposes to not only enhance quality of life for members of our community, but we also place a high value on embracing and enhancing diversity.

This is why reports of anti-Muslim vandalism in Campustown, where graffiti was displayed that contained phrases like “Wipe out Islam” shock and sadden us.

To the members of the Muslim Student Association, we extend our sympathies for the attacks found written in Campustown. We also thank the Muslim Student Association for its involvement at Iowa State University and in the Ames community.

We encourage you to continue participating actively through community events that promote diversity and tolerance like FACES (Families in Ames Celebrating Ethnicities, which will be celebrated Oct. 2).

We also encourage you to get involved in student and professional organizations and simply establish personal relationships with neighbors, co-workers and classmates.

In addition, we also encourage others to do likewise.

We extend to you the support of the Chamber and our members. We believe this incident to be an anomaly to the normally welcoming Ames environment.

Please know that the Ames Chamber of Commerce does support free speech.

However, we cannot and do not condone hateful attacks against anyone, especially fellow members of our own community.

Jeffrey Johnson

Ames Chamber of Commerce Board