Religious leaders rally in Naperville in face of hate crime case

The stole that hangs around the shoulders of the Rev. Tom Capo depicts various emblems: the Jewish Star of David, the Christian cross, the Buddhist Wheel of Dharma, the Hindu Om, the Islamic crescent moon and star, and more.

Each symbol represents a different faith, but Capo, of the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church in Naperville, said the stole stands for unity and a commitment to learning about other religions.

Religious awareness and acceptance, he said, is especially relevant after the recent assault of Darien resident Inderjit Singh Mukker, 53, a Sikh-American who was attacked Sept. 8 in his hometown.

“We want to be a support for tolerance,” Capo said. “We need to get to know each other, have relationships with people. It reduces the prejudice between us.”

The Islamic Center of Naperville, along with the Naperville Interfaith Leaders Association, held an interfaith gathering Sunday to talk about the assault and stand in solidarity with Mukker and his family, said event organizer Shafeek Abooubaker, a member of ICN.

According to Mukker's attorney, the Darien man was driving to the grocery store when a teenager saw his beard and turban and started insulting him with racial slurs. When Mukker pulled over, the teen approached him at his car and beat him, DuPage County prosecutors say.

Mukker suffered several injuries, including a fractured cheekbone. The Willowbrook teenager accused of beating him was charged last week with a hate crime.

“The community as a (whole) is very much concerned about such events, especially when it happens in our neighborhood, where we consider it a safe place,” Abooubaker said.

Fifteen people spoke during the event Sunday, including politicians, social activists and religious leaders of varying denominations. Though Mukker was not in attendance, members of his family were present, as were more than 100 individuals from different congregations and religious groups.

“We need to get back to teaching and demonstrating tolerance for each other and a love for humanity,” said state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora.

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster said similar hate crimes or acts of discrimination occur “far too often” throughout the country, making it “easy to lose sight of the progress that we have achieved and to lose hope that things will get better.”

However, the Naperville Democrat added, seeing so many people come together to support Mukker gives him hope that the community is on a path toward acceptance.

Despite the circumstances, the Rev. Lynn Pries, chaplain of North Central College and president of NILA, said he is glad the community can rally together during a difficult time.

“We have a unique opportunity to work with people who come with a variety of religious traditions,” he said. “We can come together because something we all hold in common is compassion.”