New York ( CNN ) -- Muslim-American leaders gathered Monday to voice their support for the building of mosques in America and , more specifically , for the planned Islamic center and mosque to be known as Park51 near Manhattan 's ground zero . Imam Al-Amin Abdul Latif , president of the Islamic Leadership Council of Metropolitan New York , read a joint statement on the steps of the Park51 location . `` We stand for the constitutional right of Muslims and Americans of all faiths to build houses of worship anywhere in our nation as allowed by local laws and regulations , '' he said . He added that the group represents more than 55 mosques and Islamic organizations in New York City that `` stand against the racism , hatred , religious intolerance and ethnic bigotry directed against Islam and American Muslims . '' The group 's statement also called for `` a week of dialogue to help combat bigotry and promote understanding and religious tolerance in civil society . '' Latif told reporters that a number of mosques all over the country will hold open houses during the weekend of October 22-24 to help people of other faiths better understand Islam and Muslims . Mahdi Bray , a Muslim leader from MAS Freedom , said that he believes the Park51 Islamic center should be seen as `` a symbol of reconciliation , a symbol of unity and a symbol of mutual respect . '' He noted that `` none of our organizations is capable of putting money into this . We 're putting ideas and we 're putting social and political support behind it . '' The developers of Park51 issued a written statement following the news conference thanking Muslim-American leaders for their support : . `` Our community remains committed to building bridges of understanding to our neighborhoods , to our city and to the rest of America . Park51 will embody that commitment . In doing so it provides much needed services to New Yorkers of all backgrounds who live and work in Lower Manhattan . '' Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations acknowledged that the developers could have handled the project better but said they are doing what everyone does when they misstep : `` You just pick yourself up and move forward and that 's what happening now , '' he said . The Park51 project is no longer a case , it is a cause , Awad said . And because it has become a cause he believes it will get the funding it requires to be completed . `` This is America . Nothing moves America like a cause , and that includes money , '' he said .
Leaders representing mosques , Islamic groups gather to back controversial center . Score: 6 Open houses are to be held at many U.S. mosques October 22-24 .