ST. PETERSBURG, FL (970 WFLA) -- The city of St. Petersburg is holding its first ever iftar dinner tonight, as part of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman says it's intended to send a message that his city won't put up with what he considers the mistreatment of Muslims in other U.S. cities.
"It really was more a matter of seeing what was happening with the Muslim community and how people were being targeted and persecuted because of their faith", Kriseman said.
The mayor insists it isn't a way of declaring St. Petersburg a "sanctuary city". Kriseman insists St. Petersburg isn't a sanctuary community, meaning non-cooperation with federal immigration laws, but remains "welcoming to all."
The iftar dinner takes place at the St. Pete Coliseum.