Several Bay Area Coptic Christians are calling on the United States to respond to the latest ISIS massacre after 21 Egyptian Christians were shown beheaded in a gruesome video released over the weekend.
Bishop Ray, a father at St. Antonius Coptic Church in Hayward, on Monday told the members of his church to be proud of what he called the martyrs to Christianity because they refused to renounce their faith. The 21 Egyptian Christians were marched in line in front of a video camera and beheaded.
Egypt responded by launching air strikes against ISIS targets.
"ISIS is a kind of virus," Ray said. "If we keep it, it will destroy everywhere -- even here. We are not far away from them."
Yousses Sawiris of Hayward, a member of Ray's church, was one of several Coptic Christians urging the United States to get involved.
"I think the US should send support and prevent future incidents," Sawiris said.
Another member of Ray's church, John Bassilly of Castro Valley, also would like to see the United States send help.
Local
"I think (the US) should send in troops whether it's air strikes, whether it's boots," he said. "Something has to happen."
