Tiny Turnout for the Muslim Day of Prayer in Washington DC

Today we saw a much smaller gathering in Washington D.C. than what the organizers of the event Islam on Capitol Hill event was calling a "A Day of Islamic Unity". Organizers were hoping for 50,000 to attend this prayer event, however early reports from the Washington Post are saying that only about 1,000 people showed up for the event.

One of the reasons cited for such a low turn out is the backlash that has occurred because of the event. The Washington Post reports,

"But they said many people have been frightened away by the backlash against the event. Some conservative Christian groups and bloggers have been calling it anti-Christian and un-American."

However, not all conservatives and Christians have called this event un-American, in fact, many radio talk show hosts, including Janet Parshall who hosts a national radio show from the nation's capitol, asked her audience to pray for those in attendance, and to be respectful, as well as saying that no religious prayer of any type should be banned because this is America where we have freedom of speech and religion.

A number of other Christian and Jewish leaders issued a press release asking the organizers of the Muslim prayer event to denounce Islamic acts of violence. Some of those events include:

Signers of the letter ask rally organizers to disavow the following acts of terrorism, "committed by Muslims, in the name of Islam":

• The 9/11 attacks (more than 3,000 dead)

• The 2002 bombing of a hotel in Netanya, Israel (30 killed)

• The 2002 Bali bombings (202 dead)

• The 2007 plot to murder soldiers at Ft. Dix

• The 2008 attacks in Mumbai, India (173 dead)

• The 2009 conspiracy to bomb a synagogue and Jewish community center in the Bronx

And the Christian Broadcasting Network also expressed some concerns about the event, but also asked people to pray.