President Obama’s first visit to a U.S. Mosque was full of nothing but encouragement.
The Washington Post reports that during his 45 minute speech, POTUS told Muslim Americans inside the Baltimore mosque to never “grow cynical.”
President Obama to Make Historic Visit to U.S. Mosque
“Let me say as clearly as I can as President of the United States: you fit right here,” he said. “You’re right where you belong. You’re part of America too. You’re not Muslim or American. You’re Muslim and American.”
Obama’s historic trip was made to combat GOP opposition and silence critics in the midst of a rise in Islamophobia.
“We can’t be bystanders to bigotry. Together, we’ve got to show that America truly protects all faiths. As we protect our country from terrorism, we should not reinforce the ideas and the rhetoric of the terrorists themselves.”
President Obama thanked Muslim Americans for being “essential to the fabric of America.”