U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.) also invited a local Imam to attend the President Obama's final State of the Union address with her on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Watch video
TRENTON - U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman welcomed 20 Muslim leaders to Trenton's Shiloh Baptist Church Sunday in the effort to show solidarity among people of different faiths.
Coleman, D-12th Dist., said she had Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey along with members of his mosque - and local Jewish leaders too - attend services at her home church in Trenton to combat anti-Islamic rhetoric used by GOP presidential candidates.
"We used this as an opportunity to remind my congregation that the racism and hatred that we as African Americans experienced and to some extend still experience, the Muslim community is experiencing that now in a very dangerous way," Coleman said.
She said Shiloh Baptist members, along with the community she represents, come from diverse backgrounds and they "welcomed (Muslim leaders) very warmly as I would have expected."
Coleman also invited Chebli to attend the President Obama's final State of the Union address with her on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
"We want to stand together in solidarity," Coleman said. "We all love our God, we all love our country, peace and democracy. This is a country of immigrants and a country of diversity."
The church service held Sunday morning was conducted by Shiloh's Rev. Darrell Armstrong.
Azra Baig of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey said Armstrong's words were "humble...just beautiful."
"It's very hurtful to see and hear anti-Islamic rhetoric," Baig said. "It's just wrong. It was wonderful to hear such beautiful words from the reverend. And it was nice to be surrounded by wonderful people."
Armstrong said Sunday was an amazing day for interfaith worship and dialogue.
"It was an amazing opportunity to state to the world that we're not buying into the hatred and the division that has characterized the current presidential election," the pastor said.
Baig said Sunday's event came about after Coleman's July visit to the Islamic Society of Central Jersey's mosque in Middlesex.
"Our mosque is open to anyone and everyone," Baig said. "We plan to have more opportunities for the public to come learn about Islam and what Islamists believe."
She said the society will be hosting an event on Jan. 20 at the mosque to further inform people on the "misconceptions of Islam."
A library event will later be held in February for people who may feel uncomfortable attending a mosque, Baig said.
Coleman agreed with Baig that Sunday's event was just the beginning of more community-wide solidarity movements.
"To me, this is the beginning of a broader conversation to talk about those things that are common amongst us," Coleman said. "(It's a way to) stand up against racism and discrimination and to show people the Islamic religion is in no way, shape or form related to extremism."
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.