Tragedy struck when eight people were killed, and multiple injured when a man in a rented pickup truck drove onto a busy bicycle path hitting anyone in its way and eventually crashing into a yellow school bus in lower Manhattan on Tuesday. According to CNN, the suspect was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who is originally from Uzbekistan but has been living in the United States since 2010. Authorities are saying that this was a terrorist attack; especially after finding a note near the vehicle that was used claiming that "the attack was made in the name of ISIS."

It's extremely depressing to think about how frequent terrorist attacks are. Before the attack happened I was focusing on Halloween and how I was going to celebrate it that night. I'm sure others can relate to me daydreaming about how much fun I was going to have later that night while in class and how much candy I was going to devour. However; after hearing about the attack while at my work study job and that eigth people were killed and many injured, my mood immediately shifted. I became upset after hearing about the lives that were lost due to this person's allegiance to a group that is motivated by their hatred towards others that are not like them. I also became scared and was considering canceling my plans to go out with friends to see the Halloween Parade in Manhattan.

This past Halloween should have been a day when children and adults were focusing on what they were going to do to celebrate it and how much candy they were going to eat. The only frightening thing that should've been on the news Tuesday was a segment on this year's scariest costumes; not a scary terrorist attack. Each time a terrorist attack occurs, I ask myself, "What can be done to just end this, and prevent any more attacks from happening?"

While on the subway that night I overheard someone says that this attack is another example of why Muslims should not be allowed in this country. I disagree with him and I disagree with banning Muslims and people from predominately Muslim countries from the U.S. First of all, not all Muslims are terrorists. Secondly, according to Vox, white American men who have had no connection to Islam, have killed more Americans than anyone else. The problem isn't a specific religion, race, or ethnicity, the problem is that humanity seems to be fueled by hatred and violence. We just need to constantly promote peace and be tolerant, kind, and loving toward each other. I pray that one day, every single person on this earth will be able to do this.