The Muslim community said "Assalaamo Alaikum" to other faiths at a dinner Sunday night.
The phrase meaning "Greetings of peace to you" extended a welcome for all to enjoy an Interfaith Eid Dinner at 6 p.m.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hosted the event at Masjid Mahdi at 9610 Colvin Boulevard in Niagara Falls.
Through this dinner, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is hoping to bring understanding and tolerance by promoting interfaith interactions and allowing people of different religions and cultures to get to know one another.
"Breaking bread together, we are showing our American brothers and sisters that we are all one under one nation," said Hamid Malik, imam for Northeastern region.
Under one nation and under one roof Sunday night, for the special dinner that organizers say aims to bridge the gap between the Muslim community and other faiths.
"If we really looked over the barriers, into the eyes of other people, we would see the same humanity, the same desire for peace, the same desire for having what you need," said Sister Beth Brosmer, who attended the interfaith dinner.
This dinner comes at a time when racial disparities and tensions have increased.
"It is really important now more than ever, because we are so far apart from each other," said Tahmina Rehman, President of the Women's Auxiliary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
"It's frightening, it really disturbs me," said Barbara Vaughan, who also attended the dinner, and brought her youth group to learn more about the Muslim community. She said in the 60's she helped the nation move forward. "I was involved in a lot of the efforts of our country to move forward and break down the barriers. We're moving backwards because people feel oppressed."
The tables at the dinner were full of people, and the turnout proved something to the local Muslim community:
"There's not enough space for people to sit! It's a wonderful feeling and it goes to show the majority of Americans are loving, tolerant, and accepting people," said Imam Malik.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community group was founded in 1889 and works on a platform of promoting peace and denouncing acts of hate and violence within the community.
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