Sacramento Muslims Planning Unity, Peace Rally

A rising number of anti-Muslim attacks in the aftermath of the San Bernardino shootings has mosques in the Sacramento area on alert.

In Southern California last weekend, two mosques were vandalized in the city of Hawthorne. Similar incidents were reported in South Florida.

Mohamed Abdul-Azeez is a Sacramento Muslim leader. He heads the Tarbiya Institute. Abdul-Azeez says, so far, people in Sacramento have been understanding. 

"The vast majority of our people here in Sacramento, are very supportive," says Abdul-Azeez. "They're sending the strongest message of support to our community. But they have legitimate requests of us. They're requesting that we basically stand up stronger against radicalism."

Abdul-Azeez says he's hearing from people asking Muslims in the Sacramento area to stand publicly against Isis, or Daesh, as it's also known.

"...that we come up with creative ways to protect our own institutions from Daesh recruiters," says Abdul-Azeez. "They want us to be more vocal in terms of reaching out and demonstrating the true message of Islam. And these are areas obviously that our community needs to do some more work in."

Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Sacramento is planning to hold a Unity and Peace rally this Saturday from Noon to 2 p.m. on the North Steps of the State Capitol, at L and 11th streets.