President Obama is planning to visit the Islamic Society of Baltimore this Wednesday, which will be the first visit to an American mosque during his presidency.
“The president believes that one of our nation’s greatest strengths is our rich diversity,” said White House spokesman Keith Maley. “As the president has said, Muslim Americans are our friends, and neighbors; our co-workers, and sports heroes — and our men and women in uniform defending our country.”
“For a number of years we’ve been encouraging the president to go to an American mosque,” says Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “With the tremendous rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in our country, we believe that it will send a message of inclusion and mutual respect.”
