California interfaith leaders to back ground zero Islamic center

A group of 60 interfaith leaders in California will come out Friday in favor of a controversial Islamic center near ground zero in New York City.

"Christian, Jewish, Mormon and Muslim leaders will address the rapidly expanding epidemic of Islamophobia across the nation -- from Temecula to Tennessee to New York to Connecticut -- which they view as a threat to religious freedom and rights of mosques, churches, and synagogues to exist," the group said in a statement.

The event will take place at the Islamic Center of Southern California at 9:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. ET).

The New York Islamic center's leaders say they plan to build the $100 million, 13-story facility called Park51 two blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks.