We Focus On Religious Persecution with Local Imam and Rabbi

WGCU | By Rachel Iacovone,

Mike Kiniry

Published March 20, 2019 at 12:32 PM EDT

In the wake of the shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, we’re zeroing in on religious persecution. The attacks killed 50 people, 29 remain hospitalized, and the first funerals take place today.

Also, today isPurim. The Jewish holiday celebrates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, an advisor to King Xerxes of Persia. The account is recorded in the biblical story ofEsther.

Imam Mohamed Al-DarsaniandRabbi Nicole Lunajoin us in the studio. Imam Mohamed of theIslamic Center for Peaceand Rabbi Luna ofTemple Beth-El- both based in Fort Myers - share their thoughts on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia during the rise of white supremacy.

State News

Rachel Iacovone

RachelIacovoneis a reporter and associate producer ofGulf Coast LiveforWGCU News. Rachel came toWGCU as an intern in 2016, during the presidential race. She went on to cover Florida Gulf Coast University students at President Donald Trump's inauguration on Capitol Hill and Southwest Floridians in attendance at the following day's Women's March on Washington.

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Mike Kiniry

Mike Kiniry is producer of Gulf Coast Live, and co-creator and host of the WGCU podcast Three Song Stories: Biography Through Music. He first joined the WGCU team in the summer of 2003 as an intern while studying Communication at Florida Gulf Coast University.

See stories by Mike Kiniry