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.
The Islamic Center of Temecula is currently holding religious services in a warehouse (Photo: Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times)
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. ”
California: Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party against Islam and Temecula Mosque (Photo: SWRC Tea Party Web Site)
Temecula Tea Party Politician Patrice Lynes has Petition against Mosque (Photo: PatriceLynes.com web page)
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 Opposes Planned Temecula Mosque (Photo: KABC TV)
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.
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.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Photos from July 14 Anti-Mosque March (Photos: DNJ, except for Photo 7, ABP)
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.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Politician Kevin Fisher Leads Anti-Mosque Protest (Photo: John A. Gillis/DNJ)
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.”
Independent Heartland Baptist Church Christian Pastor Dusty Ray Led Christian Prayers for the Anti-Mosque March (Photo: ABP
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.'”
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?”
We have learned that the anti-Islam group “Dove World Outreach Center” church today has reached a new level of promoting anti-Islamic hatred by promoting an “International Burn a Koran Day” on Facebook. The Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center states that “On September 11th, 2010 we will burn the Koran on the property of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil!” The Anti-Islamic group states it mission as “To bring to awareness to the dangers of Islam and that the Koran is leading people to hell. Eternal fire is the only destination the Koran can lead people to so we want to put the Koran in it’s place – the fire!”
R.E.A.L. rejects such websites of hate and calls for book burning.
Dove World Outreach Center Promotes Anti-Islamic Hatred on Facebook - Image 1 (Photo: Facebook)Dove World Outreach Center Promotes Anti-Islamic Hatred on Facebook - Image 2 (Photo: Facebook)
"Culturist" and Brooklyn Tea Party Leader Dr. John Press Calls for Protests against Mosques in Manhattan and Brooklyn (Photo: Craig Wirga / New York Daily News)
America is a nation for and composed of people of all races, all ethnic backgrounds, all religions, and all identity groups. We remember that United We Stand – in every race, every ethnic background, every religion, and every identity group. R.E.A.L. takes exception to those who would deny freedom of religion and freedom of worship, whether it is in the United States or anywhere else in the world.
News 4 Jacksonville reports on Dove World Outreach Center protest of a Gainesville, Florida mosque: “A Gainesville church known for wearing its opinion on its shirts protested an Islamic Center on Monday. The Dove World Outreach Center, which touts the saying “Islam is of the devil,” portrayed that message outside the Islamic Center of Gainesville at its protest, which lasted about two hours. Protesters said what they were doing is the role of Christians to bring their message to the public.”
Florida: Anti-Islamic Group "Dove World Outreach" Protests Mosque in Florida (Photo: Facebook)Florida: Anti-Islamic Group "Dove World Outreach" Protests Mosque in Florida (Photo: Facebook)Florida: Anti-Islamic Group "Dove World Outreach" Protests Mosque in Florida (Photo: Facebook)
An Edmond neighborhood is dealing with bitter feelings. Some residents in the Pebble Creek addition say they are shocked by a neighbor’s signs telling some new neighbors they aren’t welcome. The new family is originally from India, but is moving here from out of state. The outspoken family who put up the signs says it’s not their race, but their religious beliefs that are the problem.
Bob, who asked us not to use his last name, lives in the neighborhood.
He says, “It’s hate speak, that’s what it is.”
He says he was shocked Tuesday to see, what he describes as, hate filled signs posted in the yard of a neighbor’s home, facing another home where an Indian family is going to live.
Bob says, “They’ve made it very clear they want to control their little world and it’s all through ignorance and fear.”
We knocked on the door, to try to talk to the residents who posted the signs.
A woman inside refused to come to the door.
She told us through a window that she had met the people who are about to move in and actually liked them, however, she says they told her they were Muslim.
She says, “I know what they stand for and I know the danger our neighborhood is in. I’m trying to save the rest of the people in the neighborhood, mainly the children.”
She says, “There is no such thing as a peace-loving Muslim. Read the sign.”
Chuck Hebard is the landlord of the home of which the new neighbors will occupy.
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Edmond, Oklahoma: News 4 Reports on Anti-Muslim Signs Near Indian Family Home (Clip: News 4 Video)
In the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, New York, it was reported that on June 27, 2010, between 200 and 300 people sought to protest a planned mosque 2812 Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn. A group called Bay People, Inc. is leading the mosque protests.
Voorhies Avenue area in dispute for planned mosque
The Brooklyn Paper also quoted an anonymous local man, who reportedly lives across the street from the planned mosque, and who threatened to bomb the planned Voorhies Avenue mosque, telling the reporter: “If they build a mosque there, I’m going to bomb the mosque.. I will give them a lot of trouble… They’re not going to stay here alive.”
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports our universal human rights for all. We reject and oppose all calls for intolerance, hate, violence, and terrorism. We urge all those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden their hearts.
