Showing solidarity with San Francisco Muslims, dozens of residents, religious leaders, Rabbis, pastors, priests and members of different faiths formed an interfaith ring around a mosque after Friday Prayer to support the religious minority amid soaring Islamophobia.
Organized by local interfaith groups, the human chain was attended by more than 200 people who circled San Ramon Valley Islamic Center.
Chanting “circle for the planet, circle for each soul. For the children of our children, keep the circle whole", participants stood shoulder to shoulder with locked arms to protest against the increasing Islamophobia in US.
As Muslims walked out after their prayers, Rabbi Daniel Goldblatt, founder of the Interfaith Council of San Ramon Valley, led the group in a words of peace. “We’re saying right now we’re standing up against Islamophobia in our community.”
After Friday prayer, people gathered inside the mosque to listen to speeches by Muslims, Jews and Christians about religious coexistence by highlighting similarities between faiths.
With the recent murder of three young Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the burning of an Islamic Center in Houston, Texas, which authorities ruled as arson, and the numerous reports of personal harassment, Muslims feel they are targeted in the States.
In February, a group of protesters confronted Muslim Americans attending Islam Day at the Oklahoma Capitol just weeks after a similar protest was held outside of Texas’ Muslim Capitol Day rally.
Since the 9/11 attacks, US Muslims, estimated between 6-8 million, have complained of discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities, OnIslam reported.
A US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.
A Gallup poll also found that the majority of US Muslims are patriot and loyal to their country and are optimistic about their future.
An Economist/YouGov poll found that a large majority of Americans believe that US Muslims are victims of discrimination amid recent attacks against the community.
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