Video highlights of Columbus Interfaith Solidarity Event: "Burn NO Sacred Books."
This event was held on Saturday, Sept 11, 2010, 2:00 pm at First Unitarian Universalist Church.
It was an interfaith service commemorating 9/11. It brought together people of many different faiths including United Church of Christ, Unitarian- Universalist, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Islam and others. The organizers said, “In doing so we expressed solidarity with our Muslim sisters and brothers who are being targeted by hate campaigns in recent months, including calls by a Florida-based church (and its copycats) to burn the Muslim Holy book, the Qur'an (Koran).” We stood with our leaders as we affirm religious tolerance and a pluralistic society where all share equal dignity and mutual loyalty.
Speakers included: Rev. Mark Belletini (First Unitarian Universalist Church), Ray Nandyal (Racial Diversity Task Force), Saham Abdi, Ilham Abdi (Interfaith Youth Group), Rev. Eric Brown (Woodland Christian Church), Father Vinny Kiernan (The Newman Center at OSU, Roman Catholic), Dr. Mouhamed Tarazi (Islamic Society of Greater Columbus), Rev. Eric Williams (North United Church of Christ), Rev. Alicia Rivers (United Methodist), Zerqa Abid (Interfaith Youth Group & Ohio Muslims), Don Furbee (CAIR), Rev. Joan Van Beceleare (Ohio Meadville District UUA), Fazeel Khan (Lahore Ahmadiyya Islamic Society), Jamal Sadoun (American Islamic Waqf), Rev. Eric Meter (First Unitarian Universalist Church), Jolinda Stephens (First Unitarian Universalist Church) and Robert Reber (Interfaith Association of Central Ohio).
There were also messages from Senator Sherrod Brown, Rabbi Idit Jacques, Rabbi Berman (Tifereth Israel), Dr. Susan Ritchie ( North Unitarian Universalist Congregation and the Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees) and Rev. Tim Arhens (First Congregational United Church of Christ).
The Event's Major News Links:
The Examiner: Over 400 gather for 9/11 interfaith solidarity service at First Unitarian Universalist Church
NBC 4: Interfaith Service Encourages Solidarity And Religious Tolerance
Columbus Dispatch: Faiths unite to oppose burning of sacred texts
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Thank you, Sr. Abid. Your words at the interfaith service were inspiring.
ReplyDeleteMashAllah. Wonderful, Zerqa. Also see this very moving presentation by yet another Columbus minister: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTUPZDln-NY
ReplyDeleteY'all in Columbus are doing something right!
Steve, thanks for your kind words. To me, your presence along with all others was very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteBr. Anas, I know, a lot is going on here in Ohio. It's gonna be a swing state again in 2012. I think, it's time for you to move here:)
And yes, Rev. Deborah C. Lindsay is amazing. I think we are going to have some programs with her too, God willing.
Thank you Sister Zerqa for this great work. We are fortunate to have you and your husband here in Columbus Ohio as part of our community.
ReplyDeleteJust wonderning if I can get a copy of this program.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Once again, Jamal Sadoun managed to lie in public without any hesitation. But this time on camera.
ReplyDeleteNoor Islamic Cultural Center an organization with 10,000 members?
NICC is a private organization which is registered under Dr. Hany Saqr's name. This organization has no members other than Saqr himself.
The property, Noor Islamic Cultural Center, is owned by American Islamic Waqf. This also is a private Trust. According to its constitution, it is not a member organization. Check it out at the Secretary of State's website.
Then where did this number come from?
Two times in a year, NICC serves around 10,000 people on Eid days. They come for Eid prayer and then they don't show up until next Eid. AIW uses this number as their members to flatter church organizations like BREAD and others.
But when they come back Muslim community, they tell us that this is not a member organization hence we don't have any say in their matters.
It's sad to see this kind of people running the largest Islamic center in the central Ohio.
The video of this event can be requested at zabid@ohiomuslims.org
ReplyDeleteThanks