DEARBORN — At America’s largest mosque, interfaith activists representing multiple religious communities gathered on Monday to mourn and honor the victims of terror in Orlando. |
During the prayer services at the Islamic Center of America, clerics also paid tribute to the victims of a mass shooting in Charleston, S.C. on the first anniversary of that tragedy.
On June 17, 2015, a White supremacist murdered nine worshippers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Almost a year later, an extremist gunned down 49 members of the LGBT community at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Sikh, Muslim, Christian and Jewish spiritual leaders joined in prayers against hate and violence on Monday, reading verses from their respective scriptures.
Robert Bruttell, chairman of the InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, said the world contains too much sadness and fear.
“We decided that it was most appropriate to come together to pray,” Bruttell said. “It was appropriate to acknowledge our grief. Our grief has not gone away, not from a year ago, not from a week ago.”
He added that sadness lingers on, as the Charleston victims were targeted because of who they are, the Pulse club goers were murdered because of whom they love and Muslims are being victimized because of how they worship.
Rev. Jill Zundel of the Central Methodist Church prayed for healing.
“Gracious God, we’re tired,” she said. “We’re tired of gathering again to remember. We’re tired of people being called the other, so it’s easier to hate them. We’re tired of the gun problem in our country.”
Dozens of attendees read the names of the Orlando and Charleston victims to pay tribute to their individuality.
Rev. Priscilla Carey-Tucker of the African Methodist Episcopal Church prayed for God to heal “demented minds” that promote hate.
“Touch and cleanse the thoughts and hearts and minds of all people, that peace and love may flow into every life,” she said.
Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi asked God to free people of hatred and hypocrisy.
“Bless us with thoughtful minds to be able to reason and reflect on our responsibility and realize the difference between right and wrong,” Elahi prayed.
The imam urged replacing hatred with respect, revenge with reconciliation, injustice with equality and isolation with outreach.
Hazzan Steve Klaper, a Jewish musician, poet and storyteller, said he doesn’t merely stand with victims of hate; he identifies with them.
“When there’s racist violence, intimidation and hatred, I am a Black man,” he said. “When there’s Islamophobia and hatred violence against the followers of the prophet, I am a Muslim; when there is homophobia, violence and intimidation, I am a proud gay man. I am all those things because I am a Jew, because I am a teacher of Torah.”
Rev. Fran Hayes of the Littlefield Presbyterian Church prayed for mercy and compassion.
“Let the same heart beat as one among us that we will draw together across false divides in our shared humanity and rise up together as one to breathe peace where there is no peace and heal our communities and our world,” she said.
ICA Chairman Jim Safiedine stressed unity at times of crisis.
“The great resilience of our beloved community, despite the most egregious attempts to try to divide us, will endure,” he said in a statement. “And these and any future attempts will likewise be met with solidarity.”
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