NY1
By Bobby Cuza
New Yorkers of different faiths came together in Times Square on Sunday for a Muslim solidarity rally intended to send a message to the White House. NY1’s Bobby Cuza has the story.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Muslims descended on Times Square on Sunday — but that wasn’t so much the point; it was the legions of New Yorkers representing other religions —Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism — who turned out in support under the banner: “I Am A Muslim Too.”
“I guess we can thank Donald Trump for uniting us in a way that we have not been united,” hip-hop mogul and activist Russell Simmons said.
Simmons helped organize the rally, along with a prominent New York imam and rabbi. The emcees: a Muslim and Jewish comedian.
And the crowd filled a long stretch of Broadway for nearly three-and-a-half hours as a parade of faith leaders, activists, and elected officials preached unity.
“I’m proud to say, ‘Today, I am a Muslim too,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told to the crowd.
The mayor, an outspoken critic of President Trump, was among the politicians on-hand, and portrayed the city as a haven of inclusiveness.
“Regardless of your background, your faith, or where you were born, this is your city,” de Blasio said.
“I try to imagine my white, Park Slope Jewish life as a brown, Park Slope Muslim one, and what it means to try to step in other people’s shoes at this moment,” Brooklyn City Councilman Brad Lander said.
The event doubled as a show of solidarity and as a protest against Trump and his administration’s policies, like the travel ban.
It was also a response to the anti-Muslim sentiment many believe Trump has unleashed.
“I think it is generally the fear and the divisiveness that President Trump has used for the last two years to try to divide Americans,” said State Assemblyman Robert Carroll of Brooklyn.
And co-opting Trump’s slogan, many argued it’s diversity and freedom of religious expression that make America great.
“Any bad thing happen to the Muslim-American, we can see that that’s a bad thing happening to America as well,” said Imam Shamsi Ali of the Jamaica Muslim Center. “We are an integral part of America.”
The first “I Am A Muslim Too” rally brought 5,000 protesters to Times Square in 2010.
The White House is expected to reissue a revised version of the travel ban next week.
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