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Central Coast pauses to remember 9/11 victims
Posted: Sep 11, 2010 7:35 PM by Ariel Wesler
Updated: Sep 12, 2010 12:00 AM
Community leaders from all faiths were remembering the lives lost during the September 11th attacks nine years ago. The memorial was held at a mosque in San Luis Obispo. Organizers say a new terrorist watch program can help prevent a similar tragedy.
"Today, our hearts are pressed together under the weight of 3,000 soles," said Rushdi Cader, who organized the event.
Muslim, Chrisitian, and Jewish leaders gathered at the Mosque of Nasreen in San Luis Obispo to remember the events of 9/11 and talk of tolerance.
"The leader of the mosque was welcoming the Jewish leader and saying that they were brothers and it felt really good about seeing them together," said Becky Townsend of San Luis Obispo.
"The Jewish community has distinguished itself in san luis obispo in standing up for our community when there have been detractors that have slandered us," Cader said.
Organizers hoped holding the memorial at a mosque would change perceptions and help unite the community.
"I just got invited to go inside and see what it looks like. I feel like that's pushing me to be a little more open," Townsend said.
"Civilization was attacked, humanity was attacked, and we all have to stick together and we all have to do something positive out of that terrible circumstance," Cader said.
Local Muslim leaders are launching a new community watch program called A.L.E.R.T.U.S aimed at raising awareness
"If somebody was sitting in a coffee shop and overheard something and was empowered with a program like the A.L.E.R.T.U.S program, one person could have protected many," Cader said.
A theme crossing religous boundaries.
A.L.E.R.T.U.S. stands for Alliance with Law Enforcement for the Reporting of Threats within the United States. The program is being launched in memory of the 9-11 victims.
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