President Obama To Visit Baltimore County Mosque Wednesday

CATONSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- In just a matter of hours, President Obama will be back in our area to do something he's never done as president--he'll be visiting a mosque in Baltimore County.

Ava-joye Burnett has more on why some are saying this is long overdue.

Muslims are often misunderstood, but the president hopes his visit will remind all Americans that we all have many things in common.

Extra security visible and perhaps undercover at a Catonsville mosque leading up to President Obama's historic visit on Wednesday.

"I think it's long overdue. It seems like a very positive gesture to kind of counterbalance the intolerance," said Eric Zsebenyi.

The president's visit comes at a time when Muslims everywhere are under fire after terrorist attacks in Paris and then right here in the U.S. in San Bernardino, California.

The hope is that President Obama's presence at the Islamic Society of Baltimore will remind Americans that Muslims are your friends and neighbors.

"This is a mosque that I think represents the diversity of the Muslim population in America. And hopefully, that will be evident from the audience the president speaks to," said Josh Earnest, White House spokesperson.

The president is expected to talk about the constitutional right of religious freedom with leaders at the mosque.

"It's a message, I hope, to all of America that we're like everyone else. We are, in fact, Americans," said Edmund Tori, Islamic Center of Baltimore.

WJZ spoke with residents who live near the mosque and they did have one concern--the gridlock that may come when the commander-in-chief is in their neck of the woods.

"That's a pain in the rear end. But other than that, I think he is trying to assure the Muslims that they are welcome--and they are," said Charlie Strouse, Sr.

The president visits Wednesday morning. He will also meet with students.

The president visited a mosque back in 2010, but that was in Indonesia.