It is time for us to stand together for community, for love, for peace, and for open dialogue with each other, not about each other.
A national anti-Muslim speaker is coming to St. Cloud on Friday, May 27th. I wrote about this speaker, Christian pastor Usama Dakdok, in my previous post. Just to reiterate again, though, in watching one of his messages, he claims that:
““Someday we will have a revival among Muslims in America and that’s when they will start beheading your children and grandchildren.”
#unitecloud invites you to join us to assemble in the name of peace and community:
When: Friday, May 27th.
Time: 5pm
Where: On the sidewalk next to Granite City Baptist Church (1425 Co Rd 134, St Cloud, MN 56303)
What to bring: A sign that shows you are for peace and community. Look to your left for examples of signs another community made.
Also, please bring a box of cookies. We will set up a table with a sign that says “Cookies and Conversation” so people that are coming to Usama’s talk are given the chance to talk with #unitecloud leaders and others about why community and peace are so important.
Who: We will have allies from SURJ-MN, an anti-racist group from the cities join us for this assembly. We invite other groups around MN to join us as well for one amazing showing of peace and community.
Usama is not just speaking in St. Cloud….he is doing a 4 day Central MN tour, starting in Little Falls and hitting Avon and Burtrum before ending his speaking tour in St. Cloud at Granite City Baptist Church. Here is the full run down of when and where he is speaking.
In 2015, Usama spoke in Grand Forks, and just a few days later, a restaurant run by a Muslim man was attacked by an arsonist. We are concerned that 4 days of this man’s message could lead to something similar here as well, although we pray and hope that is not this case.
If you are Minnesotan and want to show the pastor/speaker that he doesn’t speak for you, join us. #notinmyname
If you are Christian and want to show the pastor/speaker that he doesn’t speak for your faith, join us. #notinmyname
If you are Muslim and want to show the pastor/speaker that he doesn’t speak for your faith, join us. #notinmyname
If you are human and want to show the pastor/speaker that he doesn’t speak for you, join us. #notinmyname
Please direct questions to Natalie at natalie@unitecloud.org or via phone call at (404) 422-0290.
Note about parking: Do not park in the church’s parking lot. Instead, and although it is not ideal, please find legal street parking. Unfortunately, you may need to park a ways away and walk a bit to get there, so, please get there a bit early. We asked the church down the road if we could park there and they said no so, don’t park there either.