Month: August 2010

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception.  We reject protests against houses of worship, and we reject violence and attacks on houses of worship.

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, City Council Alderman Ned Dorff has asked for a postponement in a zoning hearing for an planned Green Bay Islamic mosque, whose zoning hearing is scheduled the evening of August 17, to obtain more public debate on the issue.  The local newspaper believes that the proposed mosque could result in debate similar to that in New York City.  On the Green Bay newspaper’s website, readers are writing mixed comments, including protesting statements as “Islam is not a religion,” “I oppose Muslims building anything in Green Bay” with a warning to “Stay out of Green Bay,” and asking if those who seek to build a mosque “denounce terrorism or do they believe it is their calling?”.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette and WVFR News are reporting on this subject. On August 17, 2010, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported on plans by a local government individual to seek to postpone discussion on a Green Bay City Council zoning approval, regarding a group that is seeking to build a mosque.  Their article “Velp Avenue mosque on Green Bay City Council agenda” is posted on two locations on the Press-Gazette’s website.  A hearing on the zoning request is scheduled for the evening of August 17, but City Council Alderman Ned Dorff is telling the press that he seeks a postponement to allow for more public debate on the zoning request for the mosque.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that a group called the Church of Islam seeks Green Bay city zoning approval to build a mosque “in the shuttered Bob’s Bait and Tackle shop, 1512 Velp Ave.”  The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that a Green Bay city District 7 City Council Alderman Ned Dorff, representing the west side area of Green Bay “questioned whether many nearby residents and business owners are aware of the proposed development” and might “ask for a postponement on council action to allow for more public debate.”  Green Bay alderman Ned Dorff told the Press-Gazette that because he has not heard from any constituents on the zoning request,”We need to talk about this more publicly.”  Ned Dorff was endorsed by the Green Bay Press-Gazette in his 2010 campaign to win a seat on the Green Bay City Council.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette informed the public on the zoning plan on August 16, 2010, in an article entitled “Green Bay City Council scheduled to hear proposal for mosque on Velp Avenue,” where it states “As a proposed mosque in New York  City sparks a national debate about religious tolerance, Green Bay city officials could be facing a similar issue on Velp Avenue.”

On Ned Dorff’s Facebook page, he asks “Proposal to rezone commercial land for religious use on Velp is coming to council tomorrow night. Good idea? Bad idea? Sound off here or come to council 7 PM 2nd floor city hall.”

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Update:

Ned Dorff sent the following statement to R.E.A.L. on his position:

“To give you some background on a few points in your article: The reporter asked me if I’d heard public feedback about a commercial area being rezoned for non-taxable religious use. I said I hadn’t and that it’s a sign that word didn’t get out. My only concern is taking a property off the tax rolls that we just (July 20) voted on to zone as commercial in an area we are trying to redevelop as a business district might go against the overall plan for the corridor. (Those concerns have since been assuaged).”

“I consider myself a progressive person and I am proud to represent the most progressive voting district in the city of Green Bay, which traditionally hasn’t voted based on race, gender, or creed.”

“Please issue a correction to your article that my only concern was about taking a commercial parcel off the tax rolls. That concern has since been addressed by very capable staff in our planning and economic development departments. The Press-Gazette shaped their story the way they wanted.  You can also feel free to include the other statement I wrote on Facebook about how council should treat this as a zoning issue, not a religious debate. Please contact the others who have picked up your story. I might have been painted as a xenophobic enemy by a quote taken out of context, but nothing could be further from the truth.”

“I do not look forward to the day where city government meddles with the First Amendment to favor one group over another. I will _not_ delay or vote down the proposal based on anti-Islamic sentiment. That would be an ugly, irresponsible thing to do.”

Ned Dorff also states on his Facebook page: “This debate has unfortunately turned into one over religion. Really, as a council, we should have no say over legal religious activity, as per the 1st Amendment. To do so in Green Bay would set a very dangerous, probably illegal, precedent. What we are looking at is the zoning of the area and the best way to redevelop Velp. How do we zone properly to provide neighborhood services, encourage business and keep the street in good condition?”

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The Press-Gazette stated that the Green Bay planning commission had already unanimously voted last month to support to zoning change to allow the former bait and tackle shop to be converted into a mosque, and stated that the decision had to be ratified by the Green Bay City Council to allow the mosque to be built.

Religious Diversity News reports that an attempt was made to open an Islamic center in Green Bay in 2005, which apparently found worship space in a building in Packerland Drive.

Reader comments on the Green Bay Press-Gazette web site have included those quoting Stop Islamization of America (SIOA)’s Executive Director Pamela Geller’s “Atlas Shrugs” website, who is leading the protest against the 51 Park Place Islamic Center in New York City. SIOA leaders and supporters are known to be active in mosque protests in Staten Island and on August 16, R.E.A.L. reported that SIOA supporters are now protesting a planned mosque in Kentucky.  SIOA supporters have stated that they seek to “Close and dismantle ALL mosques, mosques have no place in America.”  SIOA supporters have promoted the plan for a “Burn A Qur’an Day,” and call for the criminalization of Islam in America.

There are now eight states where the anti-Islam mosque protest campaigns have spread: California, Tennessee, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida,  Connecticut, Kentucky, and throughout New York.

On the Green Bay Press-Gazette web site, anti-mosque reader comments have included those stating “Islam is not a religion,” “I oppose Muslims building anything in Green Bay” with a warning to “Stay out of Green Bay,” and asking if those who seek to build a mosque “denounce terrorism or do they believe it is their calling?”.

The Sheboygan, Wisconsin area had numerous public debates and protests for two months over a small planned mosque in Wilson, Wisconsin in March 2010, which was finally approved in May 2010.  The Wilson mosque was then vandalized in June 2010, by anti-mosque vandals smashing windows with large pieces of asphalt.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) notes that religious freedom is not only defended by our Constitution and as part of our universal human rights, but also there are specific federal statutes involved with zoning issues.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “the land use provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc, et seq., protect individuals, houses of worship, and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws (for information on RLUIPA’s institutionalized persons provisions, please refer to the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section ).”

“In passing this law, Congress found that the right to assemble for worship is at the very core of the free exercise of religion. Religious assemblies cannot function without a physical space adequate to their needs and consistent with their theological requirements. The right to build, buy, or rent such a space is an indispensable adjunct of the core First Amendment right to assemble for religious purposes. Religious assemblies, especially, new, small, or unfamiliar ones, may be illegally discriminated against on the face of zoning codes and also in the highly individualized and discretionary processes of land use regulation. Zoning codes and landmarking laws may illegally exclude religious assemblies in places where they permit theaters, meeting halls, and other places where large groups of people assemble for secular purposes. Or the zoning codes or landmarking laws may permit religious assemblies only with individualized permission from the zoning board or landmarking commission, and zoning boards or landmarking commission may use that authority in illegally discriminatory ways.”

“To address these concerns, RLUIPA prohibits zoning and landmarking laws that substantially burden the religious exercise of churches or other religious assemblies or institutions absent the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest. This prohibition applies in any situation where: (i)  the state or local government entity imposing the substantial burden receives federal funding; (ii)  the substantial burden affects, or removal of the substantial burden would affect, interstate commerce; or (iii)  the substantial burden arises from the state or local government’s formal or informal procedures for making individualized assessments of a property’s uses.”

“In addition, RLUIPA prohibits zoning and landmarking laws that: (1) treat churches or other religious assemblies or institutions on less than equal terms with nonreligious institutions; (2)  discriminate against any assemblies or institutions on the basis of religion or religious denomination; (3)  totally exclude religious assemblies from a jurisdiction; or (4) unreasonably limit religious assemblies, institutions, or structures within a jurisdiction.”

“The Department of Justice can investigate alleged RLUIPA violations and bring a lawsuit to enforce the statute. The Department can obtain injunctive, but not monetary, relief. Individuals, houses of worship, and other religious institutions can also bring a lawsuit in federal or state court to enforce RLUIPA.”

See also Department of Justice: “Protecting the Religious Freedom of All: Federal Laws Against Religious Discrimination.”

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Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) is deeply concerned about the escalation of intolerance and hate that we seeing growing across America towards Muslims and Islamic mosques.  We will be inviting the public to join us in a freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience event on September 11 at 2 PM in Freedom Plaza in Washington DC to give Americans an opportunity to publicly show their support for such freedoms.  There is more information at  911Freedom.com.

Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths, including the freedom of religion supported under Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

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