What Broken Arrow Can Learn From Lawton’s Inclusive Path

Lawton doesn't typically have the best reputation Oklahoma. It's known as "shady" or un-affectionally described as a Call of Duty map by some Fort Sill trainees. City leaders have worked over the past decade to rebrand Lawton through various initiatives, like focusing on children by building up parks or by attracting federal contractors with the FISTA.

As a resident of Lawton who has lived here over a decade, I can agree that there are some things the town lacks when compared to other Oklahoma municipalities of similar size. But, after seeing what recently happened in Broken Arrow with the denial of the construction of the city's first mosque, I can confidently say that I have never been more proud to reside in Lawton.

Broken Arrow City Council denied a request for a mosque and retail center.

Broken Arrow has been amidst local turmoil over plans for the town's first mosque. On Monday, Jan. 12, the Broken Arrow City Council heard over four hours of public feedback on whether or not the council should approve the rezoning for a mosque and retail center. Ultimately, the council denied the rezoning due to "site use, not religious reasons."

The denial was issued despite the City of Broken Arrow's Planning Commission recommended the city council approve the rezoning and building permit for the mosque and retail center.

According to an article from the Broken Arrow Sentinel, hundreds of Broken Arrow residents attended the city council meeting Monday night to participate in public comments. There were residents for and against the building of the mosque and retail center.

After the council denied the request, residents in support of the mosque took to social media to express their disappointment in the citizens of their community. All Souls Unitarian Church shared on Facebook what one of its ministers witnessed at the city council meeting and what they would have said if they would have had the chance to speak.

Reverend Marlin Lavanhar stated on Facebook that their "heart broke" for their Muslim neighbors in Broken Arrow. Lavanhar described the treatment Muslim citizens received from other citizens, including being "booed and sneered at." They said that some people were ejected for yelling and being disruptive while pro-mosque people were speaking.

In contrast, Lavanhar said the Muslims who were there in support of the mosque sat "quietly and respectfully while neighbors stood at the microphone and spoke about them in ways no one should ever have to endure."

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The Lawton community has showed support and unity for local mosques.

Lawton may be a city in Oklahoma like Broken Arrow, where it's assumed that people of different faiths other than Christian would receive the same treatment, but that couldn't be further from reality. In 2012, Lawton opened its first mosque, and since then, the local Muslim community has seen unwavering support from the community and other faiths, even in the face of the Islamophobia.

According to an article from KSWO, Fort Sill provided space for Muslims to worship for over 20 years. Then, in 2012, Lawton's first mosque opened on SW F Ave, the Islamic Center of Lawton. Rather than facing backlash, like in Broken Arrow, the mosque opened without any retaliation from the community or other faiths.

However, at this location, Lawton's Muslim community was met with terrorist threats and hate crimes. In 2016, a hog carcass was dumped at the front door of the mosque, an alleged hate crime. When this happened, Lawton community members and local faith leaders rallied behind the Islamic Center of Lawton. Community members left flowers and cards at the mosque's front door. And faith leaders offered support, prayers and comfort to the congregation.

In an article from KFDX, faith leaders stated that the act did not define how Lawton residents truly feel about Islam or other religions practiced in the community.

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Lawton continues to support Islamic neighbors with the American Muslim Association of Lawton.

Today, Lawton's only mosque is located on NW Birch Ave and is home to the American Muslim Association of Lawton. Community members and faith leaders still supported the opening of a second mosque, with this one being located in a residential neighborhood, like most churches in the community.

While I was a reporter at The Lawton Constitution, I had the privilege of reporting on the paper's religion beat. And after the incident in Broken Arrow, I was reminded of an event I reported on at the American Muslim Association of Lawton that physically displayed Lawton's acceptance of different religions.

In April of 2016, the American Muslim Association of Lawton hosted an open mosque and tree planting event. The association routinely hosts open mosques events for people to come and see the mosque and learn about Islam and embrace understanding. But this event was different with the addition of the tree planting, which featured representatives from other faiths and churches in Lawton.

The tree planting represented unity among the Lawton community and its faith leaders. Representatives from other faiths who planted trees expressed that supporting different faiths expresses love, positivity and understanding.

After the planting, the president of the American Muslim Association of Lawton at the time, Abbas Johari, spoke about how dialogue between people of other faiths maintains civility locally and internationally. He also expressed that faith should not separate communities.

"Interfaith dialogue does not exist for the sake of preaching/persuading others to one religion or one culture," Johari said, "nor does it exist to create a melting pot of syncretism where all religious identities are conflated into one. Not all religions are the same; there exist a many differences. However, there is self-respect in difference."