East Orange hosts 9-11 Prayer Vigil at City Hall

EAST ORANGE, NJ — The city of East Orange and the City Council observed the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the foiled attempt on the nation’s capital that ended in an field in Pennsylvania by holding an Interfaith Call for Peace Community Prayer Vigil on the steps of City Hall on Monday, Sept. 11.

“Today, I stand with millions of Americans across this country and around the globe, as we remember the many innocent Americans who lost their lives 16 years ago today,” said Mayor Lester Taylor on Tuesday, Sept. 12. “The senseless and unwarranted act of violence is a reminder that we must all remain vigilant and alert. I salute the countless number of first responders who answered the call, without hesitation, to go into the towers, the streets, the fields and the Pentagon, to rescue those in danger. They will forever be heroes and will always be remembered for their courage.”

Taylor was unable to attend the Interfaith Prayer Vigil on Monday, Sept. 11, due to scheduling difficulties, but he said he was there in spirit and solidarity with council Chairman Ted Green, 5th Ward Councilman Mustafa Brent and others who came to City Hall Plaza that night. He urged everyone everywhere to “remember this tragic event in our history” and use it to “let us be inspired by the collective acts of heroism, kindness and compassion exhibited by thousands of first responders and individuals who selflessly risked their lives to help others.”

“My thoughts and prayers are over this nation and our great citizens,” said Taylor. “May God continue to bless America. May we never forget.”

Taylor’s remarks about 9/11 did seem to capture the spirit of the others in attendance at the Sept. 11 Prayer Vigil, including 2017 New Jersey Democratic Party Lt. Gov. candidate Sheila Oliver; Assemblyman Tom Giblin; Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders President Britnee Timberlake and People’s Organization for Progress Chairman Larry Hamm.

“This is the first time that we had our 9/11 service at night. When I sat down with my council colleagues and the city clerk, we wanted to do something just a little different. Most people do their 9/11 ceremonies during the day, in keeping with the timeframe of the actual attacks, but we wanted to show people that we could come out at night in our community and show our support and remembrance of the many people that lost their lives on 9/11 and people who are still here and suffering from the aftermath,” said Green on Monday, Sept. 11.

“Our ceremony was not just about 9/11; it was about bringing peace to the city of East Orange and throughout this nation. So many things are going on with politics, violence, these hurricanes that hit Texas, the Caribbean, and Florida and we wanted to bring some unity and peace to East Orange. We are grateful that we haven’t had to go through those tragedies, but we want people to know that we are keeping them in our prayers and our thoughts.”

Members of the clergy who spoke at the vigil included Father Timothy Graff from the archdiocese of Newark; the Rev. Dana Owens of Messiah Baptist Church; Rabbi Marc Disick of Temple Sinai in Summit; and Imam Abdul Aziz of Masjid As-Haabul Yameen.

“I’m standing before you tonight, on behalf of the Muslim community, to send our sincere prayers to the families of every man and woman who lost their lives in that tragedy; in that evil, shameful attack that took place on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Aziz at the event. “It was very, very difficult for all of the people of faith. It was very, very painful, but it was even more difficult for the Muslim communities, when we heard that group of people use our religion to go do such an evil thing. So I’m standing here tonight with all of you to speak and condemn such evil actions anywhere and anyplace. Our religion, Al-Islam, is completely free from those people and those people who caused that evil attack.”

The worst thing about 9/11, Aziz said, is the fact that its repercussions are still being felt today, 16 years later, in the United States and other parts of the world, because “many innocent people lost their lives as a result of this attack” and “many Muslims continue to lose their lives and many continue to be displaced from their homes as the result of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.”

“That’s why it has become imperative for all of us to come together and fight against hatred, terrorism, violence and any type of evil ideology,” said Aziz. “I have a strong hope that, together, we can work to bring back peace, love, justice and security for all. I also send my sincere prayers to the victims of the hurricanes in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean. May God bless all of us. May God bless our city and the country as a whole.”

Hamm attended the East Orange Prayer Vigil with Vice Chairwoman Ingrid Hill and his other comrades after his weekly protest in Newark.

“We had our Justice Monday protest, but I was invited by Chairman Green to come to this memorial for the 9/11 tragedy that happened 16 years ago and I’m honored that I was invited to be here to bring some brief remarks,” said Hamm on Monday, Sept. 11. “I basically shared my memories of where I was at that day and what I was doing and how the attack on the World Trade Center impacted me. I think the main lesson that I tried to bring forward in my remarks is that we must turn away from war. The nation has been thrown into a permanent state of war since 9/11 for the past 16 years and I was just saying that we are wasting trillions of dollars on war and our domestic needs for housing, education, healthcare and employment are going neglected and peace is the way. You can’t unleash the dogs of war abroad and people not be bitten at home.”

  East Orange City Council, Larry Hamm, Mayor Lester Taylor, Mustafa Brent