Boxing glove tribute

This boxing glove was left as a tribute at the Wellington Islamic Centre / Kilbirnie Mosque in the aftermath of the Christchurch terror attacks on 15 March 2019. The Masjid Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre were attacked by a heavily armed white supremacist during Friday prayer on 15 March, killing 51 people and wounding 40 more. The victims ranged from three years old to 78.

There was an instant outpouring of grief and messages of love and solidarity throughout New Zealand and around the world. Thousands of tributes and messages were laid outside mosques and at community gathering points. The International Muslim Association of New Zealand (IMAN), which oversees the Kilbirnie mosque, carefully looked after every single message.

This boxing glove was transformed into a tribute by Dayna Carter and Asher Derbyshire of the Wellington Boxing Gym in Kilbirnie, who are neighbours of the mosque. They wanted the mosque to know they were thinking of them. Carter painted a white heart with the hashtag #UNITY and messages onto the glove: ‘We stand with you! / Love from your neighbours Wellington Boxing Gym’.

The glove represents what the gym is about – it symbolises a fist pump, a welcome, a goodbye, an ‘I’m here’ statement. It also evokes the clenched fist symbol of strength and unity.

Such material culture and messaging is often seen in the wake of mass violence. They are touching and provide comfort, but are temporary. The work of addressing and challenging racism, Islamophobia and white supremacy in our history and everyday life continues.