Norwich — Representatives from about two dozen city, civic and faith groups from eastern Connecticut stood at home plate Sunday afternoon to present a permanent new sign for the front gate of Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium.

“Welcome,” the poster-size sign says in 20 languages and several different colors, with the words “We Welcome Everyone” at the bottom. C. J. Knudsen, senior vice president of the Connecticut Tigers, accepted the sign, thanked the presenters and said it will hang on the front gate for fans to see entering the stadium.

Several participants held other signs during the presentation, “Hate has No Home Here,” and “#NoHate.”

As the group headed off the field, Tigers Manager Brayan Pena, who is Cuban, applauded and thanked the group for coming.

Swaranjit Singh Khalsa of Norwich, leader of the local Sikh community, donated the sign in response to recent concerns expressed over Tigers’ owner E. Miles Prentice’s role as chairman of the Washington, D.C. based Center for Security Policy. The group has been labeled by some as an anti-Muslim group which promotes anti-Muslim conspiracy theories.

“Today’s ceremony was a great effort to show we are going in a positive direction,” Khalsa said on the stadium concourse following the presentation. “Eighty thousand people are going to look at that sign every year and know that we are a community of diversity.”

Mayor Peter Nystrom said there has never been a question that Dodd Stadium welcomes fans of any ethnic or religious background.

"Today, this brief event is typical of the Tigers’ response. The gates are open to everyone, whether it was the Yankees, the Giants or now the Tigers,” Nystrom said, referring to the three Major League Baseball teams that have had minor league affiliates at Dodd Stadium. “I’m grateful to the Tigers for accepting the sign.”

Prentice has agreed to meet with representatives of various faith groups after the baseball season ends. The Tigers last game of 2019 is at noon Monday. The team and city have signed a new 10-year lease extension beginning in 2020.

Members of the Norwich City Council, Board of Education, state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, and state Rep. Kevin Ryan, D-Montville attended Sunday’s presentation. Members of the Norwich NAACP and Otis Library Executive Director Robert Farwell also participated.

Faith groups included members of the Norwich Area Clergy Association, with representation from United Congregational Church, Park Congregational Church, the Unitarian Universalist Church, Greeneville Congregational Church, the local Jewish community, the Islamic Center of New London and Baha’i Faith.

Rab and Bushra Nawaz of the Islamic Center, brought a platter of sweets to share with participants following the presentation.

Tark Aouadi, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on Islamic Relations, said he was pleased that the group representing about 150,000 Muslims in Connecticut was included in the presentation.

Signs similar to the one presented Sunday already have been placed at various places in the city, including at City Hall, the school central office and at city gateways.

Khalsa said he is working on an updated version that will list the 33 languages being spoken in city schools.

c.bessette@theday.com