Mosque Vandalized in Columbus, Ohio

January 1, 2002

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

http://libpub.dispatch.com/cgi-bin/documentv1?DBLIST=cd02&DOCNUM=72&TERMV=234:6:347:6:56907:6:77505:6

On January 1, 2002, The Columbus Dispatch featured the article "Neighbors reach out to mosque." The article reported, "Mayor Michael B. Coleman, officials at the city's Community Relations Commission and local Muslim leaders visited the historic building yesterday afternoon. ... The mayor urged Columbus residents to begin the New Year with a commitment to diversity... 'This (vandalism) is not the Columbus way,' Coleman said." The article also reported on the assistance of neighbors, including a man who dropped off a check at the center, and a local synagogue that offered space for the Mosque's weekend school. "Rabbi Harold Berman said Tifereth Israel regards the Islamic Center as a good neighbor. 'Their place of worship is a holy place that should be respected by everyone; I'm sorry that someone chose to do something that's truly despicable,' he said."