A group of Tallahassee Muslims joined other faiths for a weekend rally outside the Historic Capitol building. The goal was to condemn acts of violence and terrorism and promote peace.
Ahmed Rashidi, the Vice President of the Islamic Center of Tallahassee and organizer of Saturday’s event, waved to multiple cars with a sign around his neck.
“So, the slogan I’m wearing right now says ‘I am a Muslim, but ISIS does not represent me,’ and ISIS represents itself. ISIS represents Islam as much as the KKK represents Christianity,” said Rashidi.
The rally comes on the heels of comments by Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, stating he wants to ban Muslims from coming into the country, after recent terrorist attacks.
Azmat Rasul is a professor with Florida State University’s School of Communications, who participated in Saturday’s rally.
“We are here to express our solidarity with the victims of terrorism, and we are amassing the people that Islam are not terrorism, Muslims are not terrorists,” said Rasul. “We are condemn all these things. We are proud Americans. We are proud of the city, and this is just something that has gone wrong.”
Two Muslim women were recently attacked in Tampa, and Rasul and Rashidi say that type of hate has to stop. So does Kristi Kutz from Good Shepherd Catholic Church, who also participated in the rally.
“Very wrong…these are peaceful people,” she said. “They don’t deserve to be treated like this.”
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