They came wearing every color and costume. They prayed in a number of languages and a dozen faiths. Then, members of the diverse group—from Buddhists to Sikhs to Muslims to Christians and more—walked silently to the intersection of King Street and Market Street in the heart of historic Leesburg and held a 20-minute candlelight vigil as rush-hour traffic passed by in the dark, damp night.
The event, organized by Loudoun Interfaith BRIDGES and called “Witnessing Our Faith in One Another,” was intended “to raise a voice of love and neighborly regard, that counters the faith prejudice and racial prejudice of anti-Muslim rhetoric.” It was one of a number of events in Loudoun pushing back against an anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.
Attorney General Mark Herring addresses the congregants at an interfaith ceremony at Leesburg Presbyterian Church.
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Abbot Phrakrusirithammavithes Udom Samana of Wat Yarnna Rangsee Buddhist Monastery in Sterling offers a brief prayer from the pulpit.
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Rizwan Jaka, board chair at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, addresses the interfaith congregation at Leesburg Presbyterian Church.Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Congregants pray in a variety of traditions, all for peace. “I invite you to speak to God now in my words, but in the words you use to speak to God,” said Rev. Daniel Velez Riviera of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Leesburg.
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Attorney General Mark R. Herring is among those standing in silent vigil at the intersection of King and Market streets.
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
A delegation from ADAMS, one of the country’s largest mosques, protests terrorism, backed up by dozens of people from many faiths.
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People standing vigil held signs promoting peace and acceptance. Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
A young participant reads a passage from the Quran. The translated verse reads in part: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
