MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
The mosque in Murfreesboro put the city in the national spotlight, but not one that some necessarily liked.
"Well, I don't like how Tennesseans are being portrayed," said Rick Britton, the Priest at St. Ann's Episcopal Church. "I don't like the way our Muslim brothers and sisters are being portrayed."
Britton was introduced to a billboard movement slowly moving across our country. It says simply "Love your Muslim neighbors."
"There are good people in Murfreesboro who support the Islamic community and the Islamic community are our neighbors," Britton said.
Members of his church and people around the country have donated money to the group behind the ad campaign.
"As it says in scripture, Mark the 12th chapter it says, ‘love your neighbor as yourself,'" Britton explained. "There are good folks on both sides of the issue and I'm just so upset because the few voices that are causing so much controversy are the ones that are being hurt."
"But many of us in the Christian community, even the Jewish community, want to support our Muslim brothers and sisters."
The billboard will go up in Murfreesboro and Britton says he hopes Christians appreciate the symbolism of the simple statement.
"For religious people, symbolism is very very important" he said. "It makes us stop, it makes us think, it makes us reflect. So having this billboard there as people drive by, as people walk by it, will remind us of our call to love all of god's children and be respectful to one another."
The billboard is expected to go up on September 24 in Murfreesboro on South Church Street.
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- Aug. 12, 2010: Proposed mosque brings threat of lawsuit to commissioners
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- June 26, 2010: Residents rally to show support for Islamic Center of Murfreesboro
- June 24, 2010: Opposing sides come face-to-face at mosque rally
- June 24, 2010: Future Islamic center sign vandalized in Murfreesboro
- June 18, 2010: Rutherford Co. mosque reaches out after neighbors' public outcry
- June 17, 2010: Mosque approval last month stirs strong emotions
- Jan. 18, 2010: Vandals spray paint Murfreesboro Islamic center sign
- Nov. 2, 2011: Chancellor sets date for Murfreesboro mosque trial
- Sept. 29, 2011: Groundbreaking held for new Murfreesboro mosque
- Sept. 14, 2011: Mosque construction delayed after bids lacking
- Aug. 29, 2011: Judge upholds ruling in favor of mosque project
- May 19, 2011: Judge rules against plaintiffs in mosque suit
- March 10, 2011: Mosque opponents lose effort to get 31,000 emails
- Nov. 17, 2010: Rutherford Co. judge won't stop mosque construction
- Oct. 21, 2010: Plaintiffs' attorney questions mosque intention
- Oct. 20, 2010: More angry words as mosque hearing resumes
- Oct. 19, 2010: Court battle over Murfreesboro mosque to resume Wednesday
- Oct. 18, 2010: Feds file legal brief in support of Murfreesboro mosque
- Sept. 28, 2010: Mosque hearing focuses on site approval
- Sept. 27, 2010: Rutherford Co. judge considers stopping mosque construction
- Sept. 24, 2010: Rutherford Co. religious leaders unite in support of mosque
- Sept. 16, 2010: Mosque supporters gather at commissioners meeting
- Sept. 10, 2010: Local Muslims worry about anti-Islamic messages
- Sept. 3, 2010: Accelerants used to start mosque fire, Reward offered
- Aug. 31, 2010: Vigil held after latest incidents at mosque site
- Aug. 30, 2010: Gunshots heard near Murfreesboro Islamic center site
- Aug. 28, 2010: ATF investigates arson at mosque construction site
- Aug. 24, 2010: Murfreesboro mosque construction enters 2nd day
- Aug. 12, 2010: Proposed mosque brings threat of lawsuit to commissioners
- Aug. 4, 2010: Islamic center controversy could prompt zoning changes
- July 15, 2010: Billboard opposes Murfreesboro Islamic center
- June 26, 2010: Residents rally to show support for Islamic Center of Murfreesboro
- June 24, 2010: Opposing sides come face-to-face at mosque rally
- June 24, 2010: Future Islamic center sign vandalized in Murfreesboro
- June 18, 2010: Rutherford Co. mosque reaches out after neighbors' public outcry
- June 17, 2010: Mosque approval last month stirs strong emotions
- Jan. 18, 2010: Vandals spray paint Murfreesboro Islamic center sign
