Rutherford County Democratic Party Chairman Matt Ferry says that the organization that he is with stands out strongly against acts of hate crimes in this community.
Below is a copy of the letter the local Democrats sent to the public.
The Rutherford County Democratic Party condemns the recent act of vandalism at the Islamic Center in Murfreesboro. This latest act of intimidation is absolutely shameful. We live in a society that allows us to worship the religion of our choice freely and without discrimination. Unfortunately, we also live in a society that has allowed certain media outlets and churches to repeat hateful and false statements directed against particular races of people and religions. This open discrimination is against everything our free society stands for.
Islam is a religion that is closely associated with the Christian and Jewish faiths because they all consider Abraham their patriarch. Muslims also love and respect Jesus and consider him to be one of the greatest of God's prophets and messengers. Islam is a religion of peace and the followers of Islam are no more violent than followers of the Buddhist, Jewish, or Christian faiths.
Muslims represent a wide array of people from every race, ethnicity, and culture. Local adherents of Islam serve our community in a variety of ways. Some are doctors, lawyers, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, and community leaders. Local Muslims groups have also contributed to improvement within our community and around our state. When disaster strikes, these groups have quickly mobilized to help provide goods and services for those in need. For example, when Gatlinburg suffered devastations from fires last year, Murfreesboro Muslim Youth quickly put together a supply drive for their community. This was not an act to raise anyone's opinion of them, it was an act of kindness and love; two things that I have personally felt from every member of their community since I began meeting them.
This latest form of intimidation goes against the values we Americans hold dear. It is incumbent upon us to embrace our local Islamic community instead of pushing them away.
I encourage everyone in our community to reach out to our Muslim brothers and sisters to learn about more their religion, as well as them as individuals and neighbors.
The vandalism certainly does not reflect the majority of people living in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County who respect all religions. The Rutherford County Democratic Party will continue to stand with our Muslim community members and against any form of discrimination. We also call on all local religious and community leaders to come together and condemn these and other hateful actions.
