Protesters gather to hold anti-Islam rally outside Phoenix mosque

[Zibago]

Protesters gather to hold anti-Islam rally outside Phoenix mosque
Published October 11, 2015
FoxNews.com
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About 200 protesters crowded in front of an Arizona mosque Saturday afternoon to demonstrate against Islam as part of a nationwide campaign that went largely unheeded.

KTAR radio reports that the protesters in Phoenix held a rally in front of the Islamic Community Center. The rally appeared to be most significant size in the country after a call for protests against Islam in America this weekend.

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KSAZ reports 19 other cities held protests organized by the “Global Rally for Humanity” group against radical Islam. Many Muslim protesters showed up as well to give their community a voice.

“They're trying to say that the whole religion, or all of the Muslims are just like the violent extremists," said Sumayyah Dawud, who is Muslim.

Usama Shami, president of the Islamic Community Center said, rally organizers are displaying their bigotry.

Rally organizer John Ritzheimer said he’s not against Muslims, but he’s against what he calls their ideology. He led a rally at the mosque in May after two former congregants were killed when they attacked an anti-Islam event in Texas.

"The way my mother raised me, she told me a story about mother Theresa, mother Theresa was invited to an anti-war rally and she said 'oh no I would never go to an anti-anything rally, but if you were to have a pro-peace rally, I would surly go to that."

Greg Burelson, who told The Guardian he was a militia member who spends his time tracking cartel members at the border, said the mosque was a breeding ground for terrorists.

“They can practice Islam in their own country,” Burelson said. “I don’t want it shoved down my throat in my own country.”

As the protests continued, the rally received some unwelcomed visitors. When alleged Nazi sympathizers showed up, Rizheimer said he asked the group to leave because “they do not represent us.”

Shami told The Guardian he was encouraged by the small turnout in comparison to the May protest, but was worried over the long-term consequences of a climate of intolerance in a country filled with firearms.

“What these guys are doing is creating an atmosphere of hatred,” he said. “We live in a time where we witness mass shootings every day. There are people who are less stable mentally and it could push them over the edge.”

The demonstration only had one moment of intensity when two anti-Islam protesters crossed the barriers, leading to a brief second of pushing and shoving. It was quelled by police soon after.

Protesters gather to hold anti-Islam rally outside Phoenix mosque | Fox News

 

[Zibago]

Fox news facebook page

@Akheilos

 

[24 Hours]

It's just another day in Phoneix

 

[Assange]

I think before demonizing Islam...Christians should read their history....Christianity has been 100 times worse demon than any other religion that mankind has ever seen...

So what they are speaking is unacceptable...

 

[Winchester]

“They can practice Islam in their own country,” Burelson said. “I don’t want it shoved down my throat in my own country.”

Heeee haaaaw !

Its actually very funny if you read this in a southern accent.
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More Than Half Of Americans Have Unfavorable View Of Islam, Poll Finds

This is kind of surprising given the relative success the Muslim community has had in integrating into the American society as compared to Europe......

 

[Zibago]

Heeee haaaaw !

Its actually very funny if you read this in a southern accent.
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More Than Half Of Americans Have Unfavorable View Of Islam, Poll Finds

This is kind of surprising given the relative success the Muslim community has had in integrating into the American society as compared to Europe......

Actually the comment section of telegraph or independent is completely different Americans are way more racist than Europeans

 

[Winchester]

Actually the comment section of telegraph or independent is completely different Americans are way more racist than Europeans

This is nothing....the Yahoo comment section is where you get the real deal unfiltered !

As for the U.K even the Daily Mail which is a right-wing tabloid has somewhat saner comments....

 

[Zibago]

This is nothing....the Yahoo comment section is where you get the real deal unfiltered !

As for the U.K even the Daily Mail which is a right-wing tabloid has somewhat saner comments....

The comments there are mostly directed at immigrants not religions while nuke Muslims,Makkah usually originate from Indian or American news sites

I actually made really good friends on the independents fb page

 

[Dubious]

Fox news facebook page

@Akheilos

Why am I not surprised!

Global Rally for Humanity is anti-American

By Keith Ellison and Dalia Mogahed

Updated 0042 GMT (0742 HKT) October 10, 2015


U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison represents the 5th District of Minnesota. Dalia Mogahed is the director of research at the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding. The views expressed are the writers' own.

(CNN)This Sunday, millions of devout Americans in cities across the country will go to church. But what would happen if instead of entering peaceful places of worship, they encountered hundreds of hostile protesters, some armed with assault rifles, surrounding their churches screaming profanity-laced anti-Christian slurs?

Americans would rightly be outraged, because such hatred and intimidation offends our bedrock principle of religious freedom. Sadly, this is not a hypothetical scenario. It is a reality some Muslims worshipers will be facing.

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, organizers of Global Rally for Humanity have planned events in 20 cities. The news story said they indicated on their Facebook account that "they are with the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters, two groups described by the Anti-Defamation League as extremist anti-government movements that grew after President Barack Obama took office." (Update: A representative of the Oath Keepers contacted us to say that the event was not officially sanctioned by them.)

Thousands are predicted to gather to stoke public prejudice, even as some Republican presidential candidates add fuel to the fire with their own rhetoric.

This will not have been the first time these protests have happened. In May, protesters, some armed with AK-47s, surrounded a Mosque in Phoenix, spewing hate speech and intimidating worshipers. After the protest, Christian and Jewish religious leaders gathered at the Islamic Community Center for a solidarity vigil to reject the message of hatred and build interfaith understanding. Neighborhood churches provided a safe place for Phoenix's Muslim Americans to pray until the hateful protests ended.

Dalia Mogahed
This unity and moral courage truly reflects who we really are as a country.

The bigotry and hatred championed by groups like the Oath Keepers does not represent the majority of Americans, who believe in a pluralistic and democratic society. But it is incumbent upon the majority to speak truth to hate. To paraphrase the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: An attack on religious freedom anywhere is a threat to religious freedom everywhere.

These protests are designed to generate fear. And they are harmful. Using hate speech and misinformation to exploit fears and secure authority has long been a danger to the freedom and safety of minorities.

Neuroscience teaches something about why bigots try to induce fear: Fear makes us more accepting of authoritarianism, conformity and prejudice. When we are afraid, we are less likely to think critically, challenge authority or judge objectively -- all critical components of an informed citizenry participating in a representative democracy. Fear works for demagogues who want to control people.

Anti-Islamic rhetoric is a political tactic to divide Americans and win elections. Many blame terrorism in the name of Islam for anti-Muslim sentiment, however polling data over the past 14 years suggests that fear of Muslims and Islam is linked more to election cycles than terrorist acts, especially among Republicans. For example, the percentage of Americans who believe there is a link between Islam and violence did not change after the Boston bombing in 2013. That number, however, rose 10 percentage points among Republicans during the 2008 and 2012 election cycles.

This campaign season is no different. A September poll of North Carolina Republican primary voters, for example, found that 72% believed a Muslim could not be president. Forty percent of this group was also as likely to say Islam should be illegal.



Anti-Muslim rally inspires good
These bigoted views do not reflect the principles of our multicultural society or the views of most Americans. In fact, results from a Gallup Poll indicate the majority of Americans would support a well-qualified person for president, regardless of his or her religious affiliation. Unfortunately, the Global Rally for Humanity events accentuate an already poisonous political climate as GOP presidential candidates are competing, yet again, to see who can capitalize most on the call to exclude millions of American Muslims from their country's political life.

Ironically, those making or tolerating virulent anti-Islamic comments don't realize their actions empower terrorist groups like ISIS. When people assert Islam is incompatible with American values, they make common cause with ISIS, which recruits Muslims who feel angry and isolated from the rest of America. The more Muslims are isolated from society and political processes, the stronger ISIS' message becomes.

Efforts to combat prejudice and exclusion are being led by American Muslims who are responding with greater civic engagement and coalition building. Some American Muslims are engaging by dedicating their lives to public service. These Muslim men and women are breaking down barriers and working to protect the freedoms of every American.

So, how should we respond to groups like the Oath Keepers?

The intended impact of anti-Muslim hate rallies is intimidation and exclusion. The most effective response is not silence or even a counter-rally, but instead a massive voter drive and calls to elected officials asking them to defend American pluralism.

Yet the response cannot be limited to American Muslims. Those who believe in the fundamental rights of all Americans to worship freely and receive equal treatment under the law must speak out against fear-mongering in our political culture.

Freedom of speech and the freedom to assemble are bedrock principles that distinguish free societies from tyrannical regimes. These freedoms, however, are not absolute. The Constitution does not protect behavior that prevents the free exercise of religion or causes the incitement of violence or prejudice against protected groups.

No matter which group is targeted for hate -- blacks, Jews or gays -- fear mongering threatens our democracy that celebrates differences and a system of justice that strives for equality under the law.

Our founding principles were created by those with moral courage. Let us follow their example and call the Global Rally for Humanity what it really is: anti-American.

This commentary was updated from an earlier version.

Global Rally for Humanity is anti-American (Opinion) - CNN.com

 

[pakdefender]

One thing I don't get is how is , in anyway , Islam is affecting the lives of non-Muslims in America ?

I'd like to hear opinions of americans on this one

 

[Dubious]

I'd like to hear opinions of americans on this one

The very idea that they are demanding halal meat is killing some from inside out

A beautiful example of how thoughtless they sound - Picked by their own American

 

[BDforever]

Fox news facebook page

@Akheilos

Protesters gather to hold anti-Islam rally outside Phoenix mosque
Published October 11, 2015
FoxNews.com
Facebook Twitter livefyre Email

About 200 protesters crowded in front of an Arizona mosque Saturday afternoon to demonstrate against Islam as part of a nationwide campaign that went largely unheeded.

KTAR radio reports that the protesters in Phoenix held a rally in front of the Islamic Community Center. The rally appeared to be most significant size in the country after a call for protests against Islam in America this weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

KSAZ reports 19 other cities held protests organized by the “Global Rally for Humanity” group against radical Islam. Many Muslim protesters showed up as well to give their community a voice.

“They're trying to say that the whole religion, or all of the Muslims are just like the violent extremists," said Sumayyah Dawud, who is Muslim.

Usama Shami, president of the Islamic Community Center said, rally organizers are displaying their bigotry.

Rally organizer John Ritzheimer said he’s not against Muslims, but he’s against what he calls their ideology. He led a rally at the mosque in May after two former congregants were killed when they attacked an anti-Islam event in Texas.

"The way my mother raised me, she told me a story about mother Theresa, mother Theresa was invited to an anti-war rally and she said 'oh no I would never go to an anti-anything rally, but if you were to have a pro-peace rally, I would surly go to that."

Greg Burelson, who told The Guardian he was a militia member who spends his time tracking cartel members at the border, said the mosque was a breeding ground for terrorists.

“They can practice Islam in their own country,” Burelson said. “I don’t want it shoved down my throat in my own country.”

As the protests continued, the rally received some unwelcomed visitors. When alleged Nazi sympathizers showed up, Rizheimer said he asked the group to leave because “they do not represent us.”

Shami told The Guardian he was encouraged by the small turnout in comparison to the May protest, but was worried over the long-term consequences of a climate of intolerance in a country filled with firearms.

“What these guys are doing is creating an atmosphere of hatred,” he said. “We live in a time where we witness mass shootings every day. There are people who are less stable mentally and it could push them over the edge.”

The demonstration only had one moment of intensity when two anti-Islam protesters crossed the barriers, leading to a brief second of pushing and shoving. It was quelled by police soon after.

Protesters gather to hold anti-Islam rally outside Phoenix mosque | Fox News

@Providence

 

[Providence]

One thing I don't get is how is , in anyway , Islam is affecting the lives of non-Muslims in America ?

I'd like to hear opinions of americans on this one

Right!! Fox news comment section. A Tremendous source of truth and insights

These fringe groups don't represent US diaspora. Having said that, muslims must also share the responsibility. Most muslims even after settling in US refuse to mingle with the local people and are considered to be very clannish. This doesn't help at all when you throw in incidences of islamic jihadi group in the mix. Each time a jihadi group tries to pull off something indoctrinating a few from the community, the distance between the community increases.

 

[Dubious]

Right!! Fox news comment section. A Tremendous source of truth and insights

These fringe groups don't represent US diaspora. Having said that, muslims must also share the responsibility. Most muslims even after settling in US refuse to mingle with the local people and are considered to be very clannish. This doesn't help at all when you throw in incidences of islamic jihadi group in the mix. Each time a jihadi group tries to pull off something indoctrinating a few from the community, the distance between the community increases.

Why not adapt the Norwegian method/ model of integrating the immigrants?

 

[pakdefender]

Right!! Fox news comment section. A Tremendous source of truth and insights

These fringe groups don't represent US diaspora. Having said that, muslims must also share the responsibility. Most muslims even after settling in US refuse to mingle with the local people and are considered to be very clannish. This doesn't help at all when you throw in incidences of islamic jihadi group in the mix. Each time a jihadi group tries to pull off something indoctrinating a few from the community, the distance between the community increases.

For a moment , let's just talk about United States i.e how are lives of Americans living in America affected by Islam and it followers ? I've re-phrased the question so that it removes the ambiguity.

I believe the US secret service is onto any group or individual muslim or non-muslim who poses any kind of security threat and for most part they have done a good job in keeping their homeland safe from subversive activity.

The number of muslim linked violent incident that have happened in the US are very few , more people have lost lives in drunk driving or gun related violence then a muslim committing any act of violence , statistics back this but neither drunk driving nor gun-related violence brings about such like comments as posted above

So in reality what is the hate spewing and raging about ? there is fear that muslims will get indoctrinated and become violent (?) fear and loathing for they way they dress and pray or they just want muslims gone regardless (?)