'Meet A Muslim' Event In Morris Plains Saturday

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — This Saturday, September 9, Muslim youth from across the United States will take part in the second national #MeetAMuslim Day, and you can participate right here in Morris Plains.

The event will take place in the strip mall at 1767 Route 10, Morris Plains, from 2-5 p.m.

This is part of a nationwide effort to answer questions about Islam in order to build bridges and eliminate the ignorance. It is organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), the young men’s organization of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, who will host #MeetAMuslim events nationwide in 80 locations across the country. In each location, young men and boys from the AMYA will stand in public spaces holding signs reading "I'm a Muslim, ask me anything" or "Meet a Muslim."

"As active and engaged Americans, our mission is to always promote dialogue and understanding between all people,” said Dr. Bilal Rana, National President of AMYA. “The best way to defeat ignorance about Islam is to make ourselves available as sources of knowledge about our faith. According to a Pew Research Poll, 62% of Americans say they don’t know a Muslim. We want to change this by getting out in our local communities, engaging in dialogue, and thereby tackling the misconceptions people have about Islam.”

All the locations nationwide where this is happening Saturday:

• 280 Union Street, Rochester, NY 14609 @ 9 AM-12 PM
• 2100 Park St, Syracuse, NY 13208 @ 9 AM-12 PM
• 1 Walsh Cir, Syracuse, NY 13208 @ 9 AM-12 PM
• Hamilton Park, 773 Boulevard E, Weehawken, NJ 07086 @ 9 AM-12 PM
• Jamaica Ave & 179th St, Jamaica, NY 11432 @ 11 AM-2 PM
• Times Square, Manhattan, NY 10036 @ 11 AM-2 PM
• Newark Penn Station, Newark NJ @ 11 AM-2 PM
• 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217 @ 12 PM-3 PM
• Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 @ 12 PM-3 PM
• 1767 Route 10, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 @ 2 PM-5 PM
• 1 Easton Ave. New Brunswick NJ @ 2 PM-5 PM

With reporting by Carly Baldwin (Patch Staff)

Images via Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association