Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
A Volunteer Human Rights Group – Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins
Genevieve Long: “What the Media Doesnt Say About Falun Gong”
— “11 Years ago, on July 20, 1999, a persecution against a meditation practice called Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa) officially started in Mainland China. The persecution of Falun Gong was the brainchild of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, who saw Falun Gong’s enormous popularity among 100 million Chinese and simply wanted to crush it.”
— See the rest of the report
Pakistani Christians are mourning the death of two brothers, Christian pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajjad, who were shot to death on court house ground on July 19, 2010 in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The two brothers had left a court hearing on on charges of “blasphemy,” when they were gunned down and their police escort wounded by what COMPASS Direct News reports as “five armed, masked men.” The Pakistan Christian Post reports that on July 20, “the two brothers were buried in the Jamra Road grave yard after their last rites were completed in a catholic Church.”
The Pakistan Christian Post reported that the Pakistan police had concluded that there was no evidence of blasphemy” against the two Christian men, and that the handwriting on the “blasphemous” leaflets that they were charged with did not match the handwriting of the suspects. Dawn reported that the alleged “blasphemous” leaflets “unbelievably, also contained phone numbers” of the brothers. The Pakistan Christian Post reported that “investigation officer Mohammad Hussian produced Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel before Judge in District Courts where he testified that police have investigated allegations leveled against them but found no proof that they may be charged under blasphemy.” BBC reported that “Atif Jameel, spokesman for the Pakistan Minorities Democratic Foundation, told the BBC: ‘No-one in his right mind would issue a derogatory pamphlet against the Prophet and put his name and address on it. This appears to be a conspiracy against peace and religious harmony in Faisalabad.'” Asia IT News reports the two men had continued to assert their innocence. Dawn reported that “Khurram, believed to be an activist of the little known Tehrik-i-Hurmat-i-Rasool, got the two brothers arrested.”
The men were then ambushed by masked gunmen who waiting for the two Christian brothers on the court house steps. According to the Pakistan Christian Post, “As there were rumors that Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel are found innocent and will be released, the extremists Muslims reached in District Courts Faisalabad and were waiting for them to come out of court house. As Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel were walking towards district courts custody cell with police, the unidentified gunmen opened fire and Rashid Emmanuel felt on ground. Sajjid Emmanuel stepped to save his brother but gunmen shot him down too.” Asia IT News reports that “For several days, Muslim religious leaders in Faisalabad had been fanning the flame of hatred against the two brothers, calling for their death.” COMPASS Direct News also reported that Christian Lawyers’ Foundation (CLF) “President Khalid Gill said the bodies of the two Christians bore cuts and other signs of having been tortured, including marks on their faces, while the brothers were in police custody.”
The Pakistan Christian Post indicated that previously “The Muslims took out a procession on July 10, 2010, when they burnt tires and pelted stones on Catholic Church Warispura Faisalabad. The mob threatened that if these brothers are not executed according to Muslim law, the mob will exact revenge not only on them, but the entire Christian community.” The Pakistan Daily Times similarly reported: “Earlier this month, about 400 demonstrators burnt tires and held protests in the Waris Pura neighborhood of Faisalabad, a slum inhabited by nearly 100,000 Christians, demanding the death penalty for the accused.” Asia IT News reported: “Immediately right after their arrest, Muslims organized a protest demonstration, calling for the two Christian brothers to be put to death.”
After the outrageous broad daylight murder of Pakistani Christians in police custody, protest demonstrations occurred in the Christian community in the brothers’ native area of Daoodnag. Dawn reported that “Monday’s killings led to violent protests by the Christian community in the brothers’ native area of Daoodnagar; a section of the Muslim community reacted by asking the people over mosque loudspeakers to ‘fight the rampaging’ Christians. The situation grew volatile enough to necessitate the imposition of Section 144 for the maintenance of public order.”
According to the Pakistan Christian Post, “The family members protested against murder of Emmanuel Brothers but Muslim Imamas of mosques announced ‘Muslims come out of homes and let us kill all infidel Christians.’ On which Muslims organizations took out rallies and processions to justify killing of Christians. Heavy contingent of police noted the situation and dispersed the protestors.”
In the July 21, 2010 Dawn editorial “Jungle Justice,” Dawn stated that “There have been several instances where police apathy, perhaps in some cases connivance, has led to under-trial prisoners being targeted by vengeful elements on the court premises. Where the charge involves religion, there is a greater need for the police to be vigilant when escorting the accused to or from court, given the kind of fury that allegations of blasphemy unleash…. Such cases are a reminder of how allegations of blasphemy can be used to incite jungle justice and mob violence that often mask the real motives behind the targeting of individuals. The motives can range from the settling of personal scores to property disputes…The result is the creation of an atmosphere of fear and violent mistrust that could lead to the targeting of more members of the Christian community… Arrests under Section 295-C of the PPC for allegations of blasphemy illustrates the dangers inherent in a law that lends itself to misuse. The blasphemy law is rightly criticized for the manner in which it can be abused. We must also note that it helps foster a societal mindset of jungle justice where individuals feel that it is right to take the law into their own hands. The blasphemy law must be repealed.”
UCAN News reports that Pakistani Christians have been urged by Christian leaders to remain restrained and peaceful, and to show respect to other religions, even in the face of continuous attacks. UCAN News reports “Dominican Father Pascal Paulus told parishioners at Holy Rosary Church at Mass on July 18. ‘Respect Islam and try to be tolerant and peaceful,’ the priest said after the church was stoned on July 10 by a crowd of 100 angry Muslims carrying sticks and glass bottles.”
Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) sends it sympathies to yet another violent attack on a religious minority group in Pakistan, and urges the Pakistan people to take these atrocities seriously.
To those who believe religious freedom and freedom of worship are at a majority group’s choice, we point out once again how such atrocities against human rights clearly demonstrate the necessity of such fundamental basic UNIVERSAL human rights for everyone. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “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.”
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people. R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred and violence towards identity groups and specific religions.
Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.
— Mission Free Iran reports: “ICAE Press Release #19: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case review postponed; final judgment will be made in 20 days”
— “In our last press release we reported that the Supreme Court in Iran would issue a statement on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case on July 21st, 2010. Today we have been informed by our sources in Iran that the Islamic regime has postponed a decision in Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case for another 20 days. According to the sources, all documents of Sakineh’s case have been sent to the 9th division of the Supreme Court.”
— “We believe that Sakineh is still at risk of being executed or even stoned to death. The aim of the Islamic regime of Iran is clear: by pushing back the date of the final verdict they hope to buy time to escape the pressure of the international community. The Islamic regime is waiting for the international news coverage and the pressure to abate to then continue with their criminal activities.”
Newsweek reports of eight other pending executions in Iran — stating “News of the imminent stoning of one Iranian woman for alleged adultery galvanized a global movement to save her. But sadly, her case was not an anomaly.”
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) rejects the barbaric practice of stoning, which is widely used against women in Iran and other parts of the world. We urge all to respect women’s rights and to respect our universal human rights for all people. We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people. R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred towards identity groups and specific religions.
On the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) Facebook page, SIOA supporters are promoting articles seeking to legally ban Islam in the United States of America, and one SIOA supporter seeks Americans to “close all mosques while there is still time!” The SIOA supporters discussions are on the “legal guidelines for the criminalization of Islam in the United States.” One of the SIOA supporters seems resigned however that “As long as there will be people who will argue that they have religious freedom they will be protected.” This was posted on the SIOA Facebook page on Sunday, July 18, 2010.
In fact, there will indeed always be those Americans who are Responsible for Equality And Liberty, who will support the American Constitution and who will support our universal human rights for all people, including freedom of religion and freedom worship.
The SIOA leadership is not unaware of such postings on the SIOA Facebook page.
That same morning, Sunday July 18, 2010, the SIOA Executive Director called for Jewish Americans to support the “English Defence League – Jewish Division,” along with a new media video report of Ms. Geller speaking on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) News about the plans to protest the Park Place mosque in New York City.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has previously posted on SIOA’s support for the English Defence League (EDL) and the EDL’s history of hate, intolerance, violence, and violent protests. On July 19, 2010 the Birmingham Mail reported of EDL members attacking British police with bricks.
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns such calls for hatred against any identity group, any religion, and R.E.A.L. rejects calls by those who seek to deny anyone’s freedom of religion and freedom of worship.
We urge all those who hate to release the burden of hate from their hearts, and respect their fellow human beings and our universal human rights.
We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people. R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred towards identity groups and specific religions.
On Sunday July 18, 2010, the SIOA Executive Director of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group called for Jewish Americans to support the “English Defence League – Jewish Division.” Another SIOA supporter stated that a “there is a group like this starting in the US!” The SIOA Executive Director Pamela Geller has promoted the efforts of the English Defence League (EDL) numerous times on her Atlas Shrugs website.
In June 2010, the Jewish Chronicle reported how the English Defence League (EDL) is seeking to recruit new Jewish members. Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the Jewish Chronicle: “The EDL’s supposed ‘support’ for Israel is empty and duplicitous. It is built on a foundation of Islamophobia and hatred which we reject entirely. Sadly, we know only too well what hatred for hatred’s sake can cause. The overwhelming majority will not be drawn in by this transparent attempt to manipulate a tense political conflict.”
R.E.A.L. has previously reported on the English Defence League (EDL) in our June 1, 2010 posting, “UK and Europe Mosque Protests,” and in other reports. In our April 2010 report on EDL clashes with police over mosque. The Daily Mail reported on the EDL protesters “pulling down fences and barging their way past riot police officers… “Lines of riot police officers fought running battles with protesters as they tried to contain the mob who pulled down barriers blocking off roads.” The Daily Mail reported “Nick Mainwood, 42, from Oldbury, West Midlands, said he tried to help an elderly woman who suffered a panic attack during the protest.He said: ‘I came down here for a peaceful protest but it was horrible, absolutely horrible.'”
At the beginning of May 2010, masked EDL supporters took over the rooftop of a building in May, according to Dudley News.
On May 28, 2010, the UK Guardian newspaper also reported on plans for future EDL protests at “Muslim centers,” including East London Mosque, Tower Hamlets, and Bradford this summer. The May 28 reports highlight a growing sense of anti-Muslim hatred, rage, and violence which is growing in the United Kingdom and which is targeting Muslims and Islamic houses of worship. Video of the English Defence League showed a violent, hate-filled, and obscene members making threats against others.
On July 19, 2010, the Birmingham Mail reported on another EDL violent protest in Dudley. According to the Birmingham Mail, “Violence flared as police attempted to get the protesters back on to buses at the end of the demonstration with EDL supporters throwing bricks and metal security fences at riot police.” According to the Mail, “Several shops and cars in the town were damaged and police said they would trawl through hours of CCTV footage to find the offenders.” The Dudley News reported that “A total of 21 arrests were made during the day, including 17 for violent disorder, two for affray, one for a public order offense and one for possessing an offensive weapon.” Dudley council leader Anne Millward condemned the EDL protesters and stated “We are saddened Dudley has again been targeted by the EDL… Yet again this group of outside extremists have shown they are incapable of demonstrating peacefully and have brought public disorder and violence to our town.”
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UPDATE:
On July 22, 2010, British police arrested English Defence League leaders on suspicion of a plotting a bomb attack on a British mosque.
On July 28, 2010, the UK Sun reported that:
“ARMED police opened fire on a van as they swooped on a far-right group suspected of plotting to blow up a mosque. Cops used special tyre deflation rounds to disable a Ford Escort van driven by English Defence League official John Broomfield. Officers smashed a window and hauled the suspect out while he was stuck in traffic near the picturesque tourist spot of Corfe Castle, Dorset.”
“Police then raided Mr Broomfield’s home in nearby Swanage and seized computer equipment, mobile phones and passports. Five more English Defence League members and another person were also arrested in simultaneous raids at several addresses. The suspects were questioned about an alleged conspiracy to bomb a mosque in Bournemouth. All were later released without charge.”
…
“Police confirmed details of the arrests. A spokesman added: ‘At this stage there is no indication that mosques in Dorset are under threat of attack.'”
Additional reports:
— BBC: Seven arrested over Bournemouth mosque ‘bomb plot’
— Guardian: Police in Dorset arrest EDL member accused over suspected bomb plot
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Note despite the EDL arrests, the SIOA Executive Director continues to support and promote the EDL after the arrests.
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns such calls for hatred against any identity group, any religion, and R.E.A.L. rejects calls by those who seek to deny anyone’s freedom of religion and freedom of worship. R.E.A.L. rejects those who call for violence and who support violent protest organizations.
We urge all those who hate to release the burden of hate from their hearts, and respect their fellow human beings and our universal human rights.
We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people. R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred towards identity groups and specific religions.
On the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) Facebook page, SIOA supporters are now promoting the Dove World Outreach Center’s efforts to create a “Burn a Koran Day” that R.E.A.L. previously reported on.
Dove has appeared at events led by the Executive Director of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group, and photos of Dove members with their “Islam is of the devil” has appeared on that Executive Director’s website.
The SIOA Facebook page has also been used by SIOA supporters to call for donations and support for the Dove World Outreach Center group.
Dove World Outreach Center, has allied in the past with the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC); Dove’s ally WBC praises terrorism against Christians and attacks on police officers. The WBC also protests Jewish synagogues, Holocaust Memorial Museums, and promotes Holocaust Denial.
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns such calls for hatred against any identity group, any religion, and R.E.A.L. rejects calls by those who seek to deny anyone’s freedom of religion and freedom of worship.
We urge all those who hate to release the burden of hate from their hearts, and respect their fellow human beings and our universal human rights.
We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
Turkish news media is reporting on an “honor killing” of a 17 year old girl, Seyma G., by her brother “Y.G.” The brother accused with the murder was a member of the anti-democracy group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The murdered girl, Seyma G. had reportedly been staying in a shelter for women, fleeing family abuse.
The international group Hizb ut-Tahrir is against democracy and freedom, seeks the creation of a global Islamic caliphate, and calls for the “death penalty” for “traitors” who leave Islam. The Hizb ut-Tahrir America organization had a conference scheduled for July 11, 2010 in a Chicago area suburb, that was canceled by Marriott Hotels. See additional reports by Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) on Hizb ut-Tahrir at http://bit.ly/htwatch.
Turkish media Today’s Zaman reports: “Girl’s murder by brother was ‘honor killing” ‘states that “The police statement also noted that Y.G. was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation), an outlawed fundamentalist organization. Y.G., who was detained during the Diyarbakir police investigation, was questioned and then jailed on July 16.”
Hurriyet Daily News reports that: “A 17-year-old woman found dead one month ago was allegedly murdered by her 15-year-old brother in an ‘honor killing’ after she left the women’s shelter where she was staying, daily Radikal reported Wednesday.”… “The body of Seyma G. was found half buried in the ground in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, while subsequent tests revealed that she had been strangled to death. Her brother Y.G. was caught by police and then arrested July 16.” “The victim had reportedly been staying in a women’s shelter after being subjected to violence at home. Family members allegedly found her after they learned she had left the shelter.” “Her brother, who is accused in the murder, had previously been detained for being a member of the illegal Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir.”
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) rejects violence and threats of violence, including those who rationalize “honor killings” and related threats with claims that such violence is justified by one’s culture or religion. R.E.A.L. rejects such rationalizations for hate and violence. R.E.A.L. supports our universal human rights for women and for all human beings.
We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
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.
But in Temecula, California, Anti-Islam group and other activists are organizing to prevent an Islamic mosque from being built by the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley in a vacant lot in that city. According to the North County Times, the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley purchased the land for the mosque in 2005, and has stated that the application process for the mosque has taken nearly two years, while it has gone over details with the Temecula government. The Islamic Center of Temecula is currently holding religious services in a business warehouse.
One of the organizing groups is “We the People – Citizen in Action.” On other parts of the group’s web page, the group calls itself the “Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action.” It views its mission as “Southwest Riverside County Citizens in Action was created to return the local Tea Party Movement to the people” and to hold “Tea Party events.”
This Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party group has been seeking to stop the building of the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley mosque – stating “It will bring in Islam and usher out our freedoms and liberties, as has happened all across Europe and already parts of the US, “and stating “Not in our city!!!! Not in our Southwest Valley!” The SWRC Tea Party group plans to have their supporters “pack the house” to an August 18th hearing to prevent the mosque, because they view that Islam is “a radically intolerant belief system that is compatible with the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. ”
Local Republican politician Patrice Lynes has also promoted an online “Concerned Community Citizens” petition against the planned Islamic Center of Temecula Valley mosque on her web site. Patrice Lynes states that she is a “Member [of the] Temecula TEA Party.”
As R.E.A.L. has previously done with other reports of Tea Party activists that seek to protest mosques and attack Islam as a religion, R.E.A.L. will contact the National Tea Party for comment, and will update this if we receive any comment. We have not yet received any comments on this topic from the National Tea Party yet.
North County Times has reported that Islamic Center of Temecula Valley imam Mahmoud Harmoush has indicted that the group needed the space for growing numbers of families in the area, for the group that was founded in 1998. According to the North County Times, “The nearest mosques are in the cities of Riverside, Corona and San Diego, Harmoush said. He said local Muslims are excited about building a new one in Southwest County, but not everyone shares that enthusiasm. Among those at the meeting Friday at City Hall was Diana Serafin, a Murrieta resident and local political activist who said she is not opposed to the mosque, but what she believes it represents: the so-called Islamification of America.”
Pastor Bill Rench, the Christian pastor of the Temecula-area Calvary Baptist Church, stated that he opposed the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley mosque. According to the Los Angeles Times, Pastor Bill Rench told the press that Islam and Christianity “mix like oil and water” and predicted a “confrontational atmosphere” if the project moves forward. Pastor Bill Rench told the LA Times that “The Islamic foothold is not strong here, and we really don’t want to see their influence spread… There is a concern with all the rumors you hear about sleeper cells and all that. Are we supposed to be complacent just because these people say it’s a religion of peace? Many others have said the same thing.”
Pastor Bill Rench told KABC News that “it’s not peaceful, so we have several members from an Islamic background, and have expressed concerns themselves because of their history in it” (see also ABC video link). KABC also quoted another Temecula resident Junior Satele: “To put a mosque around here is going to get a lot of people worried, just because of what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
KABC News also reported that the Islamic center’s chairman, Haid Nael, says there is no reason for concern and all the group is planning to is expand from the current building where they have been worshiping a few miles away because it is too small. KABC quoted Hadi Nael, as stating: “We don’t go out door to door, we don’t pass flyers, we don’t pass booklets.. This is really surprising to see in a free country, that there is some kind of opposition for a peaceful community like us… All we do is just pray for God. That’s all we do.”
KABC reports that “The approval of the mosque has not been finalized. The issue will come before the Temecula planning commission in August.” This is where the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party seeks to influence the planning commission to reject the mosque application that has been underway for two years.
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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. 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.
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. We reject violence and attacks on houses of worship, and the continuing coast-to-coast protests against mosques around America today.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns the ongoing religious intolerance in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as it has previously reported. R.E.A.L. reported on the 600 individuals against the Murfreesboro mosque expansion at a public hearing June 17, 2010. R.E.A.L then followed up with another report on continuing vandalism against the Murfreesboro mosque signs, and opposition to the Murfreesboro mosque by local Tea Party leaders and politicians.
On July 14, 2010, Tennessee anti-mosque protesters demonstrated their opposition to the Murfreesboro mosque expansion by a march against the mosque down East Main Street in Murfreesboro. Hundreds of anti-mosque protesters marched in the streets of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, some waving American, Gadsden, and Israeli flags. Some had signs that read “to embrace Islam is to embrace terrorism,” “Never forget – just say no to the Rutherford County Commissioners and the Islamic mosque,” some with signs that listed the commissioners who had supported the mosque.
Anti-mosque protest leader Kevin Fisher was one of 20 speakers and a primary organizer of the anti-mosque protest event. Kevin Fisher is a former candidate for the local school board and the state legislature, according to APB.
On July 6, 2010, the Daily News Journal (DNJ) publicly reported on political leader Kevin Fisher’s calls for the Tennessee public to join him in the anti-mosque protest in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (see also screen shot).
Kevin Fisher has also expressed his opposition to other belief systems, including the Falun Dafa / Falun Gong, who have been oppressed by the Communist Chinese party for 11 years, and which in March 2010 received a U.S. Congressional resolution opposing their oppression in the Communist nation.
Marchers also included anti-mosque Tea Party Congressional candidates Lou Ann Zelenik and George Erdel. The Daily News Journal reported that George Erdel helped to organize the July 14 anti-mosque protest in Tennessee, stating: “Erdel also helped organize the march, using a bullhorn to give instructions before the parade began. He also handed the bullhorn to Dusty Ray, the pastor of Heartland Baptist Church at Walter Hill where Erdel attends. Ray led the large group gathered on the Central Magnet School grounds in prayer about their march in opposition to the plans of local Muslims.”
According to the Associated Baptist Press (ABP), Heartland Baptist Church is “independent,” and Heartland Baptist Church Christian Pastor Dusty Ray led Christian prayers for the anti-mosque march because “My main concern is that our freedoms are being threatened.”
The anti-mosque marchers in Tennessee were not without opposition. The ABP reported that “The anti-mosque marchers were met at the public square by an equally large, if not larger, crowd estimated at more than 400 by organizers of Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom. The group, composed largely of students at the local Middle Tennessee State University, was formed hastily to counter the protest.”
APB also reported that “‘I think things went really well,’ said Hudson Wilkins, a member of the organizing committee that recruited members in various ways including contacting local churches and on the Facebook social-networking Internet site. ‘We came together. We made our point, which is religious freedom is a constitutional right and civil liberty in this country. That is religious freedom for all people.'”
Daily News Journal: “Mosque leads to Square off” — Photo Album
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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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Other R.E.A.L. Reports:
Protests Against Houses of Worship
Coast-to-Coast Anti-Islam Movement Results in Protests, Attacks Against Mosques
Tennessee: New Vandalism at Mosque – “Tea Party” Candidate Rejects Mosque Proposal
Tennessee Mosque Plans Under Protest
Tennessee: White Supremacist Nazi Gets 4 Years in Prison for Mosque Firebombing
Tennessee Man Sentenced to 183 Months in Prison for Burning Islamic Center
At a public meeting with voters in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 14, 2010, gubernatorial candidate and current Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey responded to voters who seek to oppose a planned expansion of an Islamic mosque in Murfreesboro.
Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey replied by referring to the situation in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, “what happened is that they are trying to put a mosque into Rutherford County, I don’t know if you know this or not… now this mosque started coming up there… I have been trying to learn what is going on – it is not good, I will tell you that.” “Now, you could even argue whether that being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult or whatever you want to call it…”
When asked his views on the planned Murfreesboro, TN mosque facility, gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey, replied “You could even argue whether that being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult or whatever you want to call it?”
The voter continues to state to the Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey that “I think the number is 22 communities so far that have been established in the United States under Sharia law and it is expanding rapidly.”
Gubernatorial candidate and current Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey responded by stating “in Tennessee, when I am governor, we oughta pass a resolution, a law, whatever it takes…”
Previous R.E.A.L. Reports
Tennessee: Anti-Mosque Protest March by Tennesseans
Protests Against Houses of Worship
Coast-to-Coast Anti-Islam Movement Results in Protests, Attacks Against Mosques
Tennessee: New Vandalism at Mosque – “Tea Party” Candidate Rejects Mosque Proposal
Tennessee Mosque Plans Under Protest
Tennessee: White Supremacist Nazi Gets 4 Years in Prison for Mosque Firebombing
Tennessee Man Sentenced to 183 Months in Prison for Burning Islamic Center
Tennessee: Vandalism Against Mosque
Other Media Reports
AP: Tenn. gov hopeful questions if Islam is a ‘cult’
The Tennessean: Gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey criticized for calling Islam a ‘cult’
Daily Telegraph: Ron Ramsey: Tennessee Republican politician under fire in ‘Islam is a cult’ row
CBS News: Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey Questions Whether Islam is a Religion
Tenn. GOP gubernatorial candidate Ramsey criticized for questioning if Islam is a religion