Atlanta City, Georgia (IINA) : The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Geo) announced that attendees at its interfaith rally and food drive, called “No To Extremism & Bigotry. Yes To Service & Unity,” donated over 500 pounds of non-perishable food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

“While armed anti-Islam bigots sought to divide our state with hate, Georgia’s interfaith community united our state in service,” said Ruwa Romman, communications director for CAIR Georgia. “Georgia Muslims thank our Christian, Jewish and secular neighbors for standing with us and donating over 500 pounds of food to those in need.”

During the interfaith event, a diverse line-up of faith-based and secular speakers expressed solidarity with the Georgia Muslim community and debunked anti-Muslim rhetoric and conspiracy theories spread by ACT for America at its “Marches Against Sharia,” including one in Piedmont Park.

“ACT for America has no idea what Islam teaches, much less what Sharia actually means,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, executive director of CAIR Georgia. “Like canon law in Catholicism and halakha in Judaism, Sharia simply refers to the rules that Muslims follow, from praying five times a day to tithing annually to fasting during Ramadan.”

Mitchell added: ” Terrorism, female genital mutilation and other horrific practices have nothing to do with our faith and we support the criminal prosecution of those who engage in such acts.”

ACT, whose hateful rhetoric has been documented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, attracted armed members of the III% (The Three Percenters) Security Force to its protest at Piedmont Park. The right-wing militia group previously protested the construction of a mosque in Newton County.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.