The Rockland Clergy forSocial Justice's program drew about 50 people of various religions and ethnic backgrounds to theIslamic Centerof Rockland to promote peace and harmony against a backdrop of intolerance they say has been fanned by some presidential candidates.

AlthoughDonald Trumpwas not mentioned by name, his call for banning Muslim immigrants has been seen as a catalyst for heated rhetoric since the Dec. 2 shootings by suspected terrorists who may have been inspired by ISIS.

"When text is taken out of context from any scripture ... they take it in a different direction," said Azeem Farooki of the Islamic Center, in offering an example of how theQuranhad been misinterpreted by non-Muslims.

The clerical group came together two years ago to fight for change in theEast Ramapo school district, and some members had just returned from Albany, where they heard apanel offer a slate of reforms for the troubled school district.

"We're here to say we do not support or condone any of the inflammatory, provocative and incendiary rhetoric that encourages blatant discrimination of all Muslims in this country," said the Rev. Weldon McWilliams IV of theFirst Baptist Churchof Spring Valley. "Any rhetoric that attempts to lump all people of one faith together, rhetoric that attempts to apply the actions of the few and extrapolate them to the masses of any racial, religious or social group has the potential to produce an unfair, unjust and prejudicial outcome .... I want everyone to see beyond the fear tactics that are being perpetuated."

Although most said they hadn't witnessed signs of anti-Muslim sentiment locally,Syed Aliof the IqraDarul Ehsanmosque in Suffern said he had heard of several incidents atSuffern High Schooland other schools.

"Any time any class is targeted I think one the main things you should do, which all the scriptures teach, is to be forgiving and to show the person who did this that they are somehow catering to that internal demon that all of us have," Ali said.

Rabbi Paula Mack Drill of the Orangetown Jewish Center read a verse in Hebrew from theBook of Genesis. "It means simply that we are all cousins, we all come from the same parents," Drill said. "Every single one of us in this room, Jew, Christian, Muslim, we are all connected to each other. So much more unites us than divides us."

Reached Monday evening by phone, Ola Nosseir Rafeh of Briarcliff Manor, secretary for the Islamic Center of Upper Westchester and a member of the AmericanMuslim Women's Association, said she had done a presentation at the Ossining Library titled "Islam 101." The talk took place on Dec. 3 — just one day after the California shootings — but her talk had been planned as far back as March.

Nosseir Rafeh also has done interfaith presentations at theMaryknollcenter in Ossining and will participate in a program atSt. Paul's Episcopal Churchon Ganung Drive in Ossining on Thursday at 7 p.m. titled, "Jesus and the Virgin Mary in the Quran."

As a woman wearing a headscarf, Nosseir says she has been a target for harassment a handful of times in recent years — including one incident just two days ago in Briarcliff Manor.

She hopes an interfaith group she's forming to do outreach will help educate the community.

Farroki, of the Islamic Center of Rockland, blamed the politics of the some of the presidential candidates for the uptick in hostility. "I think it's completely a political transitory move," he said. "I know the people of the United States. This is not in our character to be like this. It will be over very soon."

County Executive Ed Day did not attend the forum but issued a statement: "Thousands of Muslims who live inRockland Countyshould not be maligned by the violent actions of a few. We live in a community where diversity is our greatest strength. Together, we can defeat bigotry and ISIS by strengthening ties with our Muslim friends, not alienating them with ignorant, hateful statements."

Source: USA Today