The first Muslim mayor of America, Sadaf Jaffer, is organizing the event to make sure hate has no home in America.
A group of men, women and political leaders across faiths and cultures will get together over a brunch of chai and bagels in Montgomery, New Jersey, this Sunday morning.
The community brunch, which will be hosted by the first Muslim woman mayor in America Sadaf Jaffer, in partnership with One Montgomery & Montgomery Mosaic, has a deeper motive. It would give the community an opportunity to connect with each other, understand cultures and also work toward removing any doubts or hatred, there may be about any faith or community.
“Efforts such as these are especially important in the wake of what happened in New Zealand,” the young mayor said. “The aim of the event is to mourn as well as express our love for one another as a community.”
Last week’s heinous attacks in two New Zealand mosques served as a rude wake-up call for all ethnic and religious minorities everywhere. It also brought to the fore that one must work harder to ensure that religion- or color-based hatred gets rooted out. A series of events across America are being organized by minority civil rights organizations, local mosques and political leaders to engage the communities together.
WHAT: Community Brunch, hosted by Mayor Sadaf Jaffer, in partnership with One Montgomery and Montgomery Mosaic
WHEN: Sunday, March 24, 11 am to 2 pm
WHERE: Municipal Building Court, 2261 Van Horne Road, Route 206 North, Belle Mead
“My effort is a small attempt in light of how many have come forward to support the message of brotherhood,” Jaffer said. “The Governor of N.J. Phil Murphy spoke at a local mosque after the Friday prayers. I got to be a speaker at another event at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey which was centered around combating Islamophobia. Last Sunday, a walk was held in Boonton Town from the Jam-E-Masjid Islamic Center to grieve and unite. All these actions show that as a community we want to be together.”
The purpose of the event would also be to give an opportunity to neighbors to share any concerns and hope for their city.
Jaffer said that whenever there has been any prejudicial action against any community, the local community haas always come forward to support. “In the past there was a anti-Muslim bias crime in Montgomery,” she said. “At that time, our meeting to fight Islamophobia took place at a local synagogue, Congregation Kehilat Shalom. It was there that we created this group called Montgomery mosaic which is affiliated with the National Not in Our Town movement.”
The event would be another attempt to continue conversations and build bridges, according to the organizers.