Here is an article concerning a bit of local religious bigotry:

Beaverton Mayor Wants Name Off Prayer Breakfast

By Gretchen Lehmann

PORTLAND, OR 2004-04-26 (OPB Radio) – Beaverton Mayor Rob Drake has asked to have the word mayor dropped from the title of an annual prayer breakfast organized by the Full Gospel Businessman’s fellowship. The request comes after the Christian group decided to un-invite Shahriar Ahmed president of Bilol Mosque in Hillsboro.

Organizers said they were uncomfortable including a Muslim because, they argued, he does not worship the same god as Christians do. Mayor Rob Drake doesn’t agree and he said calling the event the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast suggests he endorses excluding Muslims from the breakfast.

Rob Drake: Part of being American and what America is all about is that people can prayer and speak freely and this is one of those events that I always thought was somewhat humbling and touching and as it is conceived today, it’s badly tainted.

The mayor and a Jewish rabbi who was also invited to the May 5th breakfast have refused to attend.

I find it interesting that a Jewish Rabbi decided to opt out of the ceremony in solidarity with the Muslim representative.

Courtesy of Oregon Public Broadcasting

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