It was an extraordinary Christmas Eve in Richmond, first the traditional Jazz Service at the First United Methodist Church of Point Richmond, then across town to the Masjid Al-Rahman Mosque of the Islamic Society of West Contra Costa where hundreds of Richmond residents assembled to show support for the Islamic congregation that had been threatened three weeks ago by a man, William Celli, arrested earlier this week and charged with a “felony count of making criminal threats with a hate-crime enhancement and a misdemeanor hate crime charge.” A partially assembled pipe bomb was found in Celli’s Richmond home.

Four City Council members (Vinay Pimple, Jovanka Beckles, Gayle McLaughlin and Eduardo Martinez) and I attended the gathering at the mosque.

Paula Helene sings “O Holy Night” to a packed house at First United Methodist Church of Point Richmond traditional Christmas Eve jazz service


Richmond Mayor Tom Butt at talks about community and peace at Masjid Al-Rahman Mosque on Christmas Eve


Masjid Al-Rahman Mosque filled with Richmond residents and members of the congregation


Richmond Mayor Tom Butt at talks about community and peace at Masjid Al-Rahman Mosque on Christmas Eve


Richmond Mayor Tom Butt greets Imam Imam Hamza Meter


Richmond residents posted love notes on the mosque door in what was featured as a “Love Splash.”