Organizers from the group Global Rally for Humanity claim they’ll gather in the name of saving America from radical Islam, but members of the Muslim community call it blatant hatred and an attempt to provoke them. I’ll leave that for leaders of the LGBT community to ask him.
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In a press call this Thursday afternoon, Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., said anti-Muslim protests in the past have been localized at one venue, but these rallies are being called for multiple locations. “This is widespread in a way that these things have not been before”.
Who are we really protecting when a protest from angry, malicious, far-right extremists staunchly against Islam is taking place outside of a mosque?
No protests were expected in Birmingham, which has the state’s largest Muslim population.
“Regardless of what the lying media has already put out there telling you that this was all my mastermind, no, I can’t take credit for such a wonderful rally”, he said in a video posted August. 11. Ritzheimer, a U.S. Marine who fought in the Middle East, says he has had to go into hiding because he has been targeted by “lone wolf” Muslim attackers.
Warning against possible attacks by the armed Islamophobic groups, ISNA called on Muslims to stay calm, peaceful and not to engage with protesters.
“But American Muslim communities are not being left to face these protestors alone”, reported Carol Kuruvilla, religion associate editor at The Huffington Post.
At the Arlington Police Department, Sgt. Paul Rodriguez said, “We are going to make sure all parties are safe”. Another 55 indicated “maybe”. People in at least 10 other cities – Amarillo, Corpus Christi and Dallas, Texas; Danville, Va.; Fort Pierce, Fla.; Grand Junction, Colo.; Huntsville, Ala.; Phoenix; Racine, Wis.; Spring Hill, Fla. – have set up pages but either restricted access to invited individuals or canceled their events. “Ole Glory, Revolutionary War-Era Stars and Stripes, Confederate Battle Flags, 2nd Amendment Flags, U.S. Armed Forces…Tea Party”.
Have there been armed protesters in front of Catholic Churches across the country, decrying the sexual abuse of a few Catholic priests?
“Global Rally for Humanity” appears to have ties to John Ritzheimer, who rose to prominence among anti-Muslim activists when he organized a protest and “Draw Mohammad” contest in May in Phoenix. The two men were killed by police.
“Once again a group of “PATRIOTS” is going to march on and intimidate worshipers at the ICC Phoenix”.
Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad advised community members to savor the last warm days of the year away from the protesters, adding that officers are well prepared to handle the situation.
Hadi Jawad, another local Muslim leader, said his worries center on children who attend Friday prayers at the mosques. They now plan to rally near Dearborn’s City Hall.
In Phoenix, Usama Shami, president of the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, said typically his mosque has no activities planned on Saturday mornings.
At this point no one can say with certainty if these protests, scheduled in states from Michigan to Tennessee, will materialize. “When people know ahead of time, they can prepare”.
“All of the events have been advertised on Facebook, but as with most Facebook events it’s hard to gauge the turnout, but it would be a mistake to dismiss these anti-Muslim protests”, she said.
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“We urge fellow Jews and all concerned people to reach out, in their local communities, in solidarity with Muslim institutions and individuals”, the group said in a statement.
