Two groups of Americans who are sometimes ostracized by society came together last week over pans of sizzling breakfast food. According to Fox29 News, members of the Muslim American Society served a homemade breakfast of french toast, hash browns, and turkey bacon to over 800 officers from the 25th District Police Department in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It was on that day that the policemen and women were assigned duties for the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, and MAS members wanted to thank them for their work with a hearty meal.
Remembering the prior year’s breakfast, Captain of the force Michael Charm recounts:
“About a month after the event, an officer stopped me in court and said hey, you know that’s the first time I ever got fed a hot meal before I went out on an event? So it sets the tone for the whole day.”
While certain police officers do deserve a reprimand for abusing their power (and wrongfully shooting and sometimes killing innocent civilians), many officers are good citizens whose main desire is to uphold justice. The MAS members recognize this and wanted to inspire a positive tone by serving the workers a delicious, filling meal.
“The mosque is not just serving breakfast,” Ozzy Khalil, MAS member and organizer of the event told WTFX. “They’re also serving as the District’s temporary headquarters for the morning. The officers have all of their gear here so once they grab breakfast they can grab their equipment to head out and cover the parade.”
Khalil added that it’s important to build bridges between two groups who have much in common – not least the knowledge of what it’s like to be defined by appearance and a predetermined stereotype.
“It’s a way to say we’re not like that. One is bad but not all of us. We’re here to say we’re the real Muslims, the good Muslims and this is what we do in our Islam here. To communicate with our community.”
“This is a good way for them to show hey people do care about you out there.”
As GoodNewNetwork relays, breakfast may be the most important meal of the day but in the end, it’s the people you share it with that really counts.
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