Rabbi leads New York’s Muslim day parade in gesture of unity

The Independent
By Clark Mindock

They’ve been united in a time when the US is experiencing increased strain

The Jewish and Muslim communities in New York have come together in an act of unity in the age of Donald Trump, with a rabbi leading the annual Muslim Day Parade in the city.

Parade organisers asked Rabbi Marc Schneier to be the honorary grand marshal in order to send a clear message of unity and togetherness between the two religions.

“This is a clear message to the world that we can be united despite our differences,” Imam Shamsi Ali, the president of the Muslim Foundation of America, said.

Mr Schneier indicated he felt honoured to be a part of the parade, which is in its 32nd year.

“We have witnessed a real coming together of Muslims and Jews in America that serves as a paradigm for other nations,” he said.

He continued to note that the Jewish community has been particularly vocal of Mr Trump.

“As the children of Abraham, we recognise that we both have a common faith, and a common fate,” he continued.

Mr Trump has been anything but supportive of the Muslim community since taking office, and has refused to renounce some anti-semitic demonstrations as well.

Soon after taking office the President looked to push through a controversial travel ban that targeted predominantly Muslim countries. While the President did not at the time call that ban — a version of which would later be put into place — a “Muslim ban”, he did refer to the need for a ban on Muslim people coming into the United States during the campaign.

Later, Mr Trump received criticism after appearing to mark a moral equivalence between mostly peaceful counter protesters in Charlottesville, and the white supremacist demonstrators they had come to renounce. Just the night before, demonstrators had walked through town with torches chanting antisemitic phrases.

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