Barnes speaks at interfaith service at Ebenezer Baptist Church

By Jeff Dore, Channel 2 Action News

September 11, 2002 -- More than 1,000 Atlantans joined an interfaith memorial service Wednesday at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the home church of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

There were scriptures in Hebrew and Hindu. Clergies spoke passages from Islam and Bahai, Catholic, Protestant and Buddhist sacred texts.

"We must never forget the thousands of people who died in those cowardly attacks," Gov. Roy Barnes said. The terrorists he said, "hated America because of what we stand for in the world: freedom, tolerance and opportunity."

Hindu Dr. R. P. Rao prayed, "Oh Lord, may there be peace on earth. Peace in space. Peace in heavens. Peace in waters. Peace in trees. Peace in all the universe."

The service included a moment of silence and the Atlanta International Yuth Chorus led everyone in singing "God Bless America."