Interfaith support for Muslims -- are you listening, Mr. Trump? Mr. Sessions? Mr. Bannon? Gen. Flynn?

Leaders of Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist faiths attended Friday prayers at a mosque in Washington, D.C. in support of their Muslim neighbors.  They called on President-Elect Trump to denounce anti-Muslim hate crimes, which increased by 67% last year, according to FBI reports.

Speaking as president of the Interfaith Alliance, Rabbi Jack Moline told reporters:  “We must promise that no one will ever make another American afraid ― not the bigots, not the alt-right, not the chief strategist of the next administration, not the president of the United States. . . .  No one will make the precious children of this community, of any community, afraid.”

That's what we need more of -- leaders speaking out against hate rhetoric.  Bravo to the cast of "Hamilton" for addressing VP-Elect Pence at the show he attended.  Yes, Pence was booed by some in the audience when he entered.   But the cast was not disrespectful, as Pres.-Elect Trump angrily tweeted out, demanding an apology from the cast.   Here's what the actor Brandon Dixon did say for the entire cast gathered on stage for curtain calls:

“Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us at 'Hamilton: An American Musical.  We, sir, we are the diverse America, who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights.  “But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”

That is not disrespectful, Mr. Trump.   But you, Sir, have been disrespectful throughout the campaign.   Shame on you for firing off a tweet, demanding an apology from the cast, without getting the facts straight.   If anyone owes an apology, it is you and those audience members who booed, not the cast.

Ralph

Followup:   Pence went on FoxNews Sunday morning to say that he was not offended by the cast addressing him.    He reiterated what Trump had said on election night, that he would be president for all the people.   Pence said he (Trump) means it "from the bottom of his heart."