Faith groups hold prayer rally at Phoenix mosque

Three days after a rally outside a Phoenix mosque pitted freedom of speech against freedom of religion, faith groups from across the Valley held a prayer rally at the very place where protesters clashed.

Their purpose was to show that "when one of us is mistreated, our community responds with a message of love and not hate."

The "Love is Stronger than Hate" rally Monday evening at the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix gathered members of the Arizona Faith Network, the Women's Jewish Learning Center and the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona, among others.

Attendees were asked to bring flowers, which were placed on the window sills of the mosque as a sign of solidarity and peace, according to program moderator Dr. Mounib Shaban.

As attendees waited to enter the building near 25th and Orangewood avenues, a lone protester outside the mosque yelled anti-Islam phrases through a megaphone. Most attendees ignored Dean Saxton as they walked past, some chuckling at his remarks or responding with, "We love you, too."

Imam Mahmoud Sulaiman greeted the crowd, consisting of people from various faiths and backgrounds.

"You made goodness victorious. Thank you," Sulaiman said to a large round of applause. Sulaiman quoted different holy books as he spoke before the crowd and mentioned that representatives from every faith in the community were present.

Azra Hussain, president of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona, was astonished by the community's response.

"I never envisioned this," Hussain said, motioning to the crowd. "The outpouring of love these past few days has been an inspiration to me."

Also in attendance were Pastor Bob Hake and Adam Estle of the Church of Nazarene on Orangewood, who helped to create a human shield between protesters and the mosque Friday.

The mosque was the target of a "Freedom of Speech" rally. Organizers cast the protest as a response to two Phoenix residents who drove to Texas earlier this month in an attempt to engage in violence with attendees at an event designed to be offensive to Muslims. Jon Ritzheimer, leader of the Phoenix event, said Friday that he was "hoping to inspire more freedom-of-speech rallies."

The event drew at least 500 people, according to an unofficial police count, and was contentious but peaceful.

On Monday evening, Hake and Estle were greeted to a standing ovation and raucous applause.

"It was the most horrific scene I've ever seen or experienced," Hake said of the "speech" rally. "But Friday was not an accurate representation of this community."

Estle added that if the "roles were reversed," that members of the mosque would do the same for them.

Rabbi Jeremy Schneider, president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix, spoke about free speech, an issue that was at the center of the Friday protest.

"The right of freedom of speech is intertwined with responsibility," Schneider said, adding "We must exercise our own free speech in response and reject hate speech."

The Arizona Interfaith Movement, an organization consisting of 25 different faiths, helped put on the program. Executive directors Dr. Paul Eppinger and Reverend Erin Tamayo briefly addressed the crowd..

"We are here to build bridges of understanding, support and love for all people," Eppinger said.

Tamayo encouraged attendees to speak with a person of a different faith after the event to better understand other points of view.

Rana Singh Sodi, a representative of the Sikh community in Phoenix, spoke about how his community was effected after the events of 9-11.

Rana's brother, Balbir Singh Sodi, was murdered in Mesa on September 15, 2001, in what is widely believed to be a retaliation to the attacks of September 11.

"We see people of all different faiths in this community," Sodi said, "and that's the beauty of America."

Among the various religious leaders in attendance was Phoenix Vice Mayor Daniel Valenzuela, who represents the district where the mosque is located on Phoenix City Council.

"This is the heart of district five," Valenzuela said, holding a single rose in his hands. "I'm here for many of the same reasons everyone else is here, for support and to choose love."