The audience listened closely Saturday evening as Rep. Scott Peters and Carl DeMaio covered issues ranging from supporting small businesses to the crisis in the Mideast.
There was one topic that hit home for members of the Islamic Center of San Diego: how each candidate will work to protect religious freedoms.
“I’ve lived this fight already. I’ll continue to fight for your human rights and for everyone’s human rights,” Peters said.
DeMaio said, “We must all work together. All faiths have to bind together and say we have a constitutional freedom of assembly and religion and that must be guaranteed for all.”
The Council on American Islamic Relations recently received a threatening letter that reportedly referred to applying the death sentence and contained an unknown substance.
A representative for the group says the Muslim community supports the candidate who will help prevent future threats while protecting everyone’s civil liberties.
“I want them to include the Muslim Americans in the political system. I want them to empower this community as they empower other communities,” said Hanif Mohebi. “Count us in, not out.”
Improving the economy and making college affordable were among the many other issues raised by the audience.
“Reform the tax code, cut the red tape and mandates, and make sure our workforce and our children have the skills they need to compete in a 21st century economy,” DeMaio said.
“I’ve worked very hard to make sure that student aid is affordable to people and they’re not coming out of school with huge college debts,” Peters said.