President Obama Delivers Urgent Message on Islamophobia at First Mosque Visit

By Kelly Frazier --
03 Feb 2016 --

Obama urges religious tolerance during speech on Islamophobia at Baltimore mosque.

In the spirit of religious freedom and tolerance, President Barack Obama delivered a message Wednesday against Islamophobia during his first presidential visit to an American Mosque. He urged people to join him in the struggle against hateful rhetoric that threatens the nation’s unity. “An attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths,” he asserted. “We have to be consistent in condemning hateful rhetoric… none of us can be bystanders to bigotry.”

President Obama Delivers Urgent Message on Islamophobia at First Mosque Visit[/tweetthis]

Obama added further that when any part of the “American family” starts to feel targeted, “it tears at the very fabric of our nation.” His call for action and change comes at a difficult time for Muslim Americans, in the wake of terror attacks in the country and abroad and growing anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Short take on Obama's mosque speech: Inspiring rebuttal to the rise of Islamophobia, dotted with a few awkward back-and-forths with himself.
— Jack Jenkins (@jackmjenkins) February 3,2016

Obama urges Americans to not being "bystanders to bigotry" in address from Baltimore mosque https://t.co/BaO0apJzNf pic.twitter.com/N2M9i01WGe
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) February 3, 2016

If Obama's Mosque visit offends you more than Christians shooting up children or black churches, you're part of the problem. #MosqueVisit
— PoliticalGroove (@PoliticalGroove) February 3, 2016

Obama, at US mosque: Muslims must speak out when Christians, Jews are persecuted — including by Muslims. "None of us can be silent."
— Michelle Boorstein (@mboorstein) February 3, 2016