May 1, 2008
By
Ron Orozco
The Fresno Bee
"It's not just a Christian event," Mayor Alan Autry said, and people of several faiths had their chance to pray -- and talk -- at Thursday's National Day of Prayer event at Fresno City Hall.
Autry, one of the speakers at the event, invited people in the audience, particularly Jews and Muslims, to speak. It was the first time in the event's 16 years that there was an open mike.
Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, director of the Islamic Cultural Center in Fresno, spoke briefly in Arabic before praying for God's blessings particularly on "those who don't have the means."