Faiths Gather In Denver To Build Bridges, Downplay 'Islamophobia'
DENVER (CBS4) - Religious and city leaders gathered Saturday for an event aimed at building bridges with the Muslim community.
Leaders said the recent attacks in Brussels have fueled anti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobia.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock spoke at the mosque where participants of different faiths gathered.
He addressed the topic of stereotyping.
"Just because an idiot does what an idiot would do, it doesn't mean that everyone who looks like that idiot is an idiot too," Hancock said.
"We have a right and a responsibility to stand up when we hear the hateful words that are only meant to divide us," Hancock said in his opening speech.
Muslims in attendance said they had been hearing more hateful words in the wake of Tuesday's deadly attack by ISIS.
"With situations like these, a lot of us feel very nervous, and scared in our own communities," said Nadeen Ibrahim, a member of the Coalition for an Inclusive Colorado. "We don't know if somebody's going to come out and use their fear and transform it into anger, and a form of hostility, and perhaps even physical violence against us. We've already seen it in our community. And we don't want to see it anymore."
Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz spoke out against what he called rhetoric in recent politics.
"As we're seeing things happen throughout the world, and as Muslims tend to get blamed for a lot of that and the hate becomes more and more, I want people in our community to know, especially the Muslim community, that you are part of our community."
The event host, a member of the Colorado Muslim Society, extended a heartfelt thank you to police, saying, "We stand with you."
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
