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In the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon, various organizations in central New Jersey
displayed unity through vigils held yesterday and protests
against terrorism.
Rolling Thunder Inc., a nonprofit veterans organization,
dedicated its annual "Ride For Freedom," a motorcycle
run held in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., to the 5,000-plus
missing in the World Trade Center disaster. The ride is
usually dedicated to POWs and MIAs. About 7,000 members
rode yesterday from Elizabeth's Warinaco Park in the afternoon
to the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel.
Many of the bikers, clad in leather or denim vests and
jackets, are veterans and retired police officers, said
Ronald James, a veteran himself who handed out a letter
he wrote on Sept. 11 after watching the Twin Tower buildings
disintegrate on television.
"I was saddened about the New York City firefighters
and police officers who lost their lives in the line of
duty at the Twin Towers," James said.
David Lewis, president
of the NAM Knights of America, said there is a particular
affinity that is felt for the men and women who risked
their lives last week.
"We as veterans have taken an oath to honor and protect
civilians," he said. "Today is a day to show
solidarity."
An interfaith ceremony in New Brunswick's Monument Square
brought together some 200 Muslims, Jews, Christians and
Buddhists to protest racist attacks on Arab-Americans
and Indo-Americans.
Speakers at the Interfaith Gathering Against Terrorism
and For Unity and Mutual Respect included Imtiaz Chaudhry,
president of the Old Bridge Mosque of the Ahmadiyya movement
in Islam. the mosque was vandalized on Wednesday.
"What these terrorist have done is a 180 degree turn
from what Islam requires and what Islam teaches,"
Chaudhry said. "We are supposed to keep the peace.
These terrorists have brought dishonor of an extreme degree
to Islam, which it will be very difficult to rectify."
He said people of all faiths must work together to make
sure that there are no more attacks on innocent American
citizens or their places of worship.
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"When
the terrorist attacks were happening, everyone there was
thinking the same thing -- they worried about their life,
whatever their creed or color," said Sharief Elgamal,
board secretary and prayer leader for the New Brunswick
Islamic Center. "That's something that binds us together."
A candlelight vigil was held on Jill Court in front a
home to support the family of Kenneth Ledee, who works
for Marsh & McLennan on the 95th floor of the World
Trade Center Tower One and has been missing since the
attack, said Thomas Smith, who helped organized the event.
Most of the residents in the community were expected to
attend, he said.
"It's a shame that it took this tragedy to bring
everyone together but now everybody is more united,"
Smith said. "We're just trying to show support for
the family of Kenneth Ledee."
In New Brunswick, the Student/Worker Organization for
Revolutionary Democracy held a vigil that included dialogue
about terrorism and U.S. imperialism.
"This a very dangerous situation that people are
in right now. It's not just a threat of terrorism but
the actions that the Bush administration is taking,"
said Cliff Smith, a member of the organization.
A vigil was also held at the Spring Lake Park gazebo in
South Plainfield, where participates held candles and
sang "God Bless America."
In Highland Park, there was a community vigil on the high
school lawn, where a wreath was laid to remember the police
officers, fire fighters and first aid personnel who died
in the attack.
In North Brunswick, police, fire and rescue squad members
held a ceremony at Town Hall to honor their fallen brethren.
There was a prayer vigil at the Laurence Harbor beachfront
in Old Bridge last evening. Outside the Oakdale Village
trailer park on Route 1 in North Brunswick about 40 skateboard-toting
youngsters staged their own rally, waving flags and displaying
patriotic signs. Cars honk their support.
from the Home News Tribune
Published: September 17, 2001
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