The Christchurch shootings are only the latest in a string of hate crimes against immigrants and Muslims. That's taking a toll on Houston's Muslim community, especially given recent incidents close to home.
Last year, an arsonist burned down a mosque in Victoria. Another tried to do the same in Houston. Then this January, a gunman fired at a mosque in Katy. That steady drumbeat of attacks can cause long-lasting mental trauma.
"You know, there's a sense of feeling dehumanized, you know, and then you start to not understand your place," said Sadia Jalali, a marriage and family therapist based in Houston. "You don't understand…‘How can I feel safe?'"
That anxiety also takes a physical toll. "It increases blood pressure," Jalali said. "You know, there's people that are having heart issues, especially if they're older."
She said she worries it's normalizing hate and mass violence for children. Jalali, who is Muslim, said when her own kids learned of the latest attack, they weren't surprised.
