Local Muslims Decry Ft. Hood Shooter

Leaders of Chicagoland's Muslim community gathered here Saturday evening to celebrate, but they could not ignore the fact a fellow Muslim is believed to be responsible for Thursday's massacre in Fort Hood, Tex.

"When we have to encounter and hear of such horrific acts of violence, whether they be on the streets of Chicago, whether they be in Texas, they shudder and make us recoil," said Rami Nashashibi of the Inner City Muslim Action Network.

While Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is a Muslim, people gathered for the Chicago Islamic Organizations annual dinner denounced him.

Governor Pat Quinn came to the defense of the Muslims who choose to serve in the military.

"It doesn't matter what your last name is, or what your first name is, when it comes to comes to volunteering to defend america and defend democracy, we're all in this together. That's what I believe," Quinn said.

Earlier Saturday, religious leaders from different faiths gathered in Villa Park to show what they have in common.

If anti-Islamic sentiment is brewing, they hope to quiet it and prevent violence against Muslims in Chicago.

"We have not seen that and we hope and pray that our Villa Park community would rise above any of these simple answers that turn them into hatred and to do things against us," said Adbool Rahman Kahn of the Islamic foundation.

Back in Bensenville, Gov. Quinn directly addressed those who would attack all Muslims for the violent outburst of just one.

"It's just plain wrong. It's un-American," he said. "America is all about everyone is judged by the content of their own character, not by someone else's character."