CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- On Sunday, Welcoming Greater Charlottesville partnered with the Islamic Society of Central Virginia to provide a community Iftar on the Downtown Mall.

An Iftar is the meal that Muslims eat to break their fast every evening during Ramadan.

The event was organized to demonstrate support for the community's Muslims as well as educate the public on the holy month of Ramadan.

Shahira Ali, a student at the University of Virginia, was one of the 35 Muslims invited to the event. She says having the Iftar on the Downtown Mall where everyone can see and partake is an important step to bringing the entire Charlottesville community together.

“Having it in a public space is really important number one for Muslims to feel like they're seen that they're like kind of are welcomed and invited into the Charlottesville community and also for people passing by to know that ok this is actually a thing that, there's people that are observing this right now,” said Ali.

The event also featured community leaders and a speech about the history of Ramadan and its meaning for Muslims.