'Stop The Hate' Rally Held Near Site Of Monday Night's Presidential Debate

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A 'Stop The Hate' rally was held at Kennedy Park in Hempstead on Saturday.

Among the crowd was 16-year-old Amrit Nasiruddin, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants.

She said it huts her heart when she sees her Muslim friends being ridiculed.

"It makes me feel extremely sad because it makes no sense to alienate a group of people just because of the act of a select few, and I hope for some of that to change. So, that's why I'm here to, to promote that Islam is not about hate, and it's all about unity and peace," she told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.

Gary Gilbert said he attended the rally because 'America is better than that.'

"I think America is better than that. America is not hate. America was built on dedication, integrity, love, the better things, and that's why I'm here, because I think most people are basically good," he said.

Organizers said the rally was planned to protest racism, bigotry, and hate on the campaign trail. The rally was held just a mile from Hofstra University where Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will participate in their first presidential debate.