US Muslim leaders gathered at the Islamic Center of Jersey City on Thursday to denounce the remarks that the Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has made about the Muslim community, saying his "rhetoric" is responsible for an increase in attacks on American Muslims.
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said the Republican Party should distance itself from Trump's remarks or else his "bigotry" will be a part of the party's legacy.
"Trump is not only a bigot, but a liar", Awad said. "A dangerous one at that".
Awad said there has been a recent increase in attacks on mosques and American Muslims, which he said Trump is "at least partially responsible for". He invited Trump to visit the Park Street center, a mosque and school, to learn more about Islam.
Trump has called for increased surveillance of mosques. He also claimed on November 21 that he saw "thousands and thousands" of people in Jersey City cheering as the World Trade Center was destroyed. His remarks were widely discredited, but he has not backed down, citing old news clips as evidence that Muslims were celebrating in Jersey City on September 11, 2001.
Jersey City’s Mayor Steve Fulop said that there was nothing to substantiate that the Muslim community in Jersey City was joyous because of the attacks.
"Quite the contrary, Jersey City was used as a trauma center", Fulop said. "The Muslim community was volunteering side-by-side with the Jewish community, the Christian community and the Coptic community, helping people come over".
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