In the middle of the Rutherford County courthouse lobby, more than two dozen people formed a prayer circle in support of a controversial new mosque.
The prayer vigil was held one week after nearly 650 filled the same courthouse to make it known they did not want the Muslim community building a new Islamic Center on Veals Road.
“We most overcome this ignorance, this cloud of racial darkness that is over our community. We must overcome it,” said vigil organizer Darrell Bouldin.
Those who attended the vigil said they came to show there is tolerance within the Murfreesboro community for people of different religions. “Freedom of religion. That’s my basic reason for being here, my belief in freedom of religion,” Beverly Yousef Zadeh said after the vigil ended.
Pastor Mike Williams led the group in prayer and meditation Thursday night. “Be present as you meditate on peace, tolerance and compassion,” Williams told the crowd.
As they stood in silent meditation, someone who opposed the mosque broke that silence. “You folks can do all your meditating you’d like. These people are coming here to take over the United States,” the man said.