Protests Against Houses of Worship – Page 2 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Connecticut: Mosque Protests to Continue by Christian Group

But an anti-Islam group has announced today that it plans to continue protests against mosques throughout the month of Ramadan.

A Christian organization, Dallas, Texas-based Operation Save America, has declared a “war” against Islamic mosques in America. According to the Connecticut Post, Christian group “Operation Save America” (OSA) leader pastor Flip Benham called for taking a “war” to American mosques, stating “This is a war in America and we are taking it to the mosques around the country.” On its web page, the Operation Save America group states that “Islam is a monstrous worldview, birthed in the pit of hell.”

On a broadcast with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Operation Save Americas pastor Flip Benham repeated these remarks publicly that he views “Islam is a lie from the pit of hell.” He also stated that Muslim Americans cannot be good citizens.

CNN Video Link

NBC Connecticut News now reports that Operation Save America plans to continue protests at mosque throughout the month of Ramadan. NBC Connecticut News also reports: “The protest that caused concern happened outside the Masjid An-Noor mosque in Bridgeport on Friday. With days to go before Ramadan began, Muslim leaders asked for protection from harassment during a time when many of worshipers come together for prayer at local mosques.”

Operation Save America announced plans to have yet another protest at a Bridgeport, Connecticut on August 13, 2010 at the Bridgeport Islamic Society, Masjid An-Noor Mosque, 1300 Fairfield Avenue at 11:15 AM.

On Friday, August 6, 2010, the Christian group “Operation Save America (OSA)” held a protest outside of the Masjid An-Noor mosque in Bridgeport, Connecticut carrying signs that state “Islam is a lie.”

The Connecticut Post stated that “Flip Benham, of Dallas, Texas, organizer of the protest, was yelling at the worshipers with a bullhorn.” AP reported that the protesters were”yelling what mosque members described as hate-filled slogans.” NBC Connecticut reported that “Muslim leaders in Connecticut are asking police to ensure that they can worship without being harassed after a group was confronted on Friday.”

On July 23, 2010, the same OSA group led a protest against a Charlotte, North Carolina mosque as Muslims were going to Friday prayers to pass out tracts and broadcast over their sound system that “Islam is a lie.” The OSA Christian group promoted the Charlotte mosque protest on their web site as “The Slaying of Allah – We Came to Slay Your False God.”

Christian "Operation Save America" Group Protests Outside Charlotte, NC Mosque Gates (Photo: OSA Website)

Christian Group "Operation Save America" (OSA) Leader Promotes Message "Islam is a Lie" (Photo: YouTube)

The OSA group is also promoting the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) planned September 11, 2010 protest in New York City against the Park Place Islamic center. (See OSA video.) The OSA’s Flip Benham is urging “thousands” of Christians to protest the NYC Islamic Center in September.

The OSA group has a long history of seeking to disrupt the worship services of Muslims and other religions. In September 2009, the OSA group sought to join efforts coordinated by the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group to disrupt a public Muslim prayer on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, where the OSA had placards reading “Islam is a lie.” The OSA called its September 2009 efforts to protest public Muslim prayer as “storming the gates of Hell in Washington DC.”

The OSA Regional Director of Charlotte, North Carolina, Ante Pavkovic, has also been previously arrested for seeking to disrupt a Hindu prayer in the Senate building in Washington DC. Ante Pavkovic’s efforts were applauded by the OSA leadership, as a Hindu religious leader was left dumbfounded by the angry outbursts against him.

Washington DC: Hindu Religious Leader Stunned as Christian "Operation Save America" Protesters Heckle and Shout Against Him in Senate Chambers (Photo: YouTube)

Religious extremist hate knows no boundaries or limitations to disrespect, contempt, and intolerance against others. Christians that support religious pluralism and religious freedom should speak up about the Christian extremist actions of the “Operation Save America” group in seeking to disrupt and deny religious freedom and religious worship to others.

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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.

The Law, Human Rights, and the Right to Believe

Over thirty years ago, I came to Washington DC, and joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

My first job responsibility was to swear a promise to the United States of America, and I said:

“I, Jeffrey Imm, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

I swore this oath, because America cannot afford individuals in law enforcement that cannot defend the law of the land. If you can’t defend the Constitution of the United States, you have no business working for the American people. Amendment 1 of the Constitution supports the freedom of religion for all Americans.

To those who seek to promote human rights, I urge you to consider, can you unquestioningly support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? How credible are human rights activists that cannot defend the most fundamental international document of our universal human rights?

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.”

Notice Article 18 states “everyone,” not just those we like, those we agree with, or those who are popular. In our international Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are no caveats creating exceptions to such human rights for Christian churches in Pakistan, for Ahmadiyya Muslim mosques in Indonesia, or even for Muslim mosques in America. Everyone has the right to believe.

This may not always be popular. In America today, there are endless news reports about the unpopularity of mosques in various parts of the country – from California to Florida – that are being protested by those who do not like Islam and by those who seek to challenge some Muslims’ right to worship.

But both law enforcement and human rights activism are really not a popularity contest. Certainly in every case, supporters of both seek popularity. But both are a commitment to a consistent application of the law and our universal human rights for all people – all the time.

Some people won’t like that. They won’t like laws that keep our society safe and civil when it inconveniences them. They won’t like human rights that apply to those that they may not like. They won’t care for those who flout their populist arguments with the law and with our universal human rights.

As a child, I remember the struggle in America for black Americans’ human rights in the 1960s and 1970s. There were plenty who did not like either the laws or the struggle for such human rights. Certainly if you had taken a poll in a nation which once had 4 million members of the Ku Klux Klan, you would have found there were plenty of people who would’ve opposed both the campaigns and the laws granting black Americans their human rights – and this in a nation whose national declaration is founded on equality and liberty. During those tumultuous days, there were protesting mobs that sought to stop racial integration of schools. I remember one populist campaigner Alabama Governor George Wallace whose racial segregationist policies were part of his campaign to seek to become president of the United States, and he had many, many supporters around the country.

I have seen first hand how such bitter disagreements on human rights can divide our nation, our cities, even our families. But we have an obligation to be a UNITED States of America, not just when it is easy, but also when it is difficult, when we have to make unpopular stands to be TRUE to the truths that we hold self-evident – as Americans.

Some people don’t like the law. Some people don’t like human rights. But the law is the law – and our universal human rights are our universal human rights, not just for those we like or people like us, but for everyone.

Today, CNN has now added to the ongoing furor in America on protests against Muslim mosques by doing a poll that shows that a majority of Americans object to a planned Islamic center on Park Place in New York City, about two football fields away from Ground Zero. It is clearly not popular to many people.

Many may not like the exercise of Constitutional rights or human rights by many people. If we took a national poll every time someone did something controversial, we can be certain of the results. But whether we like it or not, Americans and human beings have Constitutional rights and universal human rights. Don’t forget those are your rights too.

We cannot trade away our Constitution and our universal human rights to whatever CNN/Opinion Research Center finds through some telephone calls, what some people post on Facebook, or what some say with protest signs. Imagine if that was you that the nation was judging any time you did something unpopular or controversial. Imagine if that was you whose very freedoms were being assessed by cable television news hosts or the latest talk radio programs. We have the right to do and say things that may be unpopular, that many may disagree with, and that many may believe to be wrong. It is called FREEDOM.

Our Constitution, our law, and our universal human rights are not just toys for angry politicians, angry groups, and sensationalist journalism. Our Constitution, our Declaration, and our law are the foundation of America’s identity. Our Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the commitment of a pact by United Nations’ countries of the world, including the United States of America, after the horror of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany – as their way of saying “Never Again” and creating an international declaration for universal human rights and justice for all – all the time.

I may no longer be a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but my commitment to their goals of Fidelity – Bravery – Integrity to our Constitution and the truths that we hold self-evident that it is based on will not waver.

To those who seek to defy Americans’ Constitutional rights, remember there are those who vowed an oath to continue to defend such Constitutional rights – whether it is popular or not.

We urge all Americans to be consistently responsible for equality and liberty. It is the American way, and it is who and what America is all about.

Connecticut: Mosque Protest by Group, Declaring “War” on Mosques

On Friday, August 6, 2010, the Dallas, Texas based Christian group “Operation Save America (OSA)” held a protest outside of the Masjid An-Noor mosque in Bridgeport, Connecticut carrying signs that state “Islam is a lie.”

According to the Connecticut Post, Christian group “Operation Save America” (OSA) leader pastor Flip Benham called for taking a “war” to American mosques, stating “This is a war in America and we are taking it to the mosques around the country.” The Connecticut Post stated that “Flip Benham, of Dallas, Texas, organizer of the protest, was yelling at the worshipers with a bullhorn.” AP reported that the protesters were”yelling what mosque members described as hate-filled slogans.” NBC Connecticut reported that “Muslim leaders in Connecticut are asking police to ensure that they can worship without being harassed after a group was confronted on Friday.”

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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.

Far From Ground Zero, Opponents Fight New Mosques

— August 8, 2010 – Associated Press report: “Far From Ground Zero, Opponents Fight New Mosques”

— Murfreesboro, Tennessee: “Mosque leader Essam Fathy, who helped plan the new building in Murfreesboro, has lived there for 30 years. ‘I didn’t think people would try that hard to oppose something that’s in the Constitution,” he said. “The Islamic center has been here since the early ’80s, 12 years in this location. There’s nothing different now except it’s going to be a little bigger.'”

— See also Islamophobia

Photos of Recent Mosque Protests Across America: 1. Manhattan, 2. Tennessee, 3. Staten Island, 4. Florida - "Islam is the Devil", 5. Brooklyn, 6. Wisconsin, 7. California. (Photos: 1. YouTube, 2. John A. Gillis/DNJ, 3. NYT, 4. Facebook, 5. Picasa, 6. Sheyboygan Press, 7. KABC )

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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.

Why the Wall Street Journal is Wrong on Freedom of Religion

Nearly two weeks after the Wall Street Journal allowed (and continues to allow today) reader comments on a WSJ article on the mosque “at Ground Zero,” to call for a terrorist bombing attack on the mosque, the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board’s Dorothy Rabinowitz writes of “Liberal Piety and the Memory of 9/11. “ It is troubling to see that the WSJ staff have more time to condemn a planned religious center than they have time to remove public calls for a terrorist attack against a religious center from its own website. R.E.A.L. repeatedly contacted the WSJ on this in July 2010.

Once again, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) points out the planned Islamic center at 45-51 Park Place is not “at Ground Zero,” as so frequently and inaccurately stated, but is two New York City blocks (600 feet – nearly two football fields) away. R.E.A.L. reported on this in detail in our June 3, 2010 article, including the fact that Islamic worship services on Fridays have been ongoing since at least December 2009, and some have stated they have ongoing since 2008. The owners of the 45-51 Park Place bought the property over a year ago on July 2009.

In her article, the Wall Street Journal’s Dorothy Rabinowitz states: “Liberal piety may have met its match in the raw memory of 9/11, and in citizens who have come to know pure demagoguery when they hear it.” Indeed we do. We also understand that American property rights and universal human rights cannot be bargained away because of bullying crowds of intolerance.

Wall Street Journal Logo (Image: Google)

Whether we agree or disagree with the leaders of the Islamic center project at 45-51 Park Place, in America, they have the right to do what they want with their property, according to the law and local governmental authorities’ approval of property use (May 24, August 3). Whether we agree or disagree with the leaders of the project at 45-51 Park Place, they have the universal human rights of freedom of religion and freedom of worship, not just as Americans under the Constitution, but also as part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If we defend these freedoms for some, we must defend these freedoms for all. Because it not just their freedoms that we defending, but it is also our freedoms as well. In much of the world today, and especially in the war of ideas against religious extremists who seek to deny such freedoms – this is a core issue of human rights that we are fighting for.

Yet the Wall Street Journal’s Dorothy Rabinowitz writes complaining of “liberal piety” after these New York City governmental decisions, and the support of these governmental decisions and our universal human rights by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The NYC governmental decisions weren’t even a contest. The May 24, 2010 decision by the Manhattan Community Board was 29-1; the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission decision was a unanimous 9-0. Former Republican (now Independent) NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg was discussed as a possible VP candidate for Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. But now when NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg stands up for American Constitutional and for universal human rights, he is guilty of “liberal piety.”

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Boards’ Dorothy Rabinowitz is wrong. “Property rights” are not some “liberal piety,” but fundamental rights for all American citizens. Our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience, are not some “liberal piety,” but fundamental aspects of our identities as Americans, and rights that all human beings around the world deserve – regardless of your race, ethnicity, gender, nationality… or religion. These universal human rights apply to those we like and those we dislike. They apply to all people – irrespective of their political views – left, right, or center.

Ms. Rabinowitz and the Wall Street Journal use her August 4, 2010 article to also justify denying such freedoms based on “political Islam.” R.E.A.L. does not question whether or not there are political arguments or extremist arguments by some followers of Islam, Christianity, or any other religion. We know there are. When religious extremists make political arguments using religious words to justify denying anyone’s human rights, R.E.A.L. and myself have been there to challenge them on this, publicly and consistently. But we recognize that such political debates are ones that we will have in the political and public arena, whether the group making such anti-human rights or anti-democracy statements is the Hizb ut-Tahrir or the Westboro Baptist Church. But our challenges and disagreements with those who seek to deny human rights is never a challenge or denial of their freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience.

It is ironic that a member of the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board should suddenly become concerned about “political Islam” as a rationalization to deny others their American Constitutional and universal human rights. Certainly, the Wall Street Journal has not been concerned about “political Islam,” when the Wall Street Journal has made money from some of its supporters as “economic growth opportunities.”

The Wall Street Journal and parent company Dow Jones have been significant investors in global Sharia financial organizations, some of which have involved “political Islam” figures, that the Wall Street Journal now claims to object to. We understand the need for ethical finance, and have no objections to financing supporting ethical objectives by financiers.

But the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones paid individuals to promote such financial organizations, regardless of their links to “political Islam.” A former employee of the Muslim Brotherhood-influenced International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) organization, Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo, was the Wall Street Journal’s representative at Sharia finance meetings, as the Wall Street Journal’s “Chief Shariah Officer.” According to the IIIT, one of their primary goals is the “the Islamization of knowledge.” Mr. DeLorenzo is also currently a member of the Dow Jones board. The Center for Islamic Pluralism states that “the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), [is] a major subject of the GreenQuest inquiry“… and that the “GreenQuest investigation has yet to be concluded.” According to the Washington Post, “The IIIT network was set up in the 1980s largely by onetime [Muslim] Brotherhood sympathizers with money from wealthy Saudis, Muslim activists said. A number of its members ended their Brotherhood ties years ago after concluding it was too inflexible but still advocate some of its principles, the activists said.” Another former employee of Dow Jones (WSJ parent company), Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani was a Dow Jones Sharia finance adviser, while he also promoted books on the need for “aggressive Violent Extemism.” The London Times reported that former Dow Jones adviser Usmani “believes that aggressive military jihad should be waged by Muslims ‘to establish the supremacy of Islam’ worldwide.” In his book, this Dow Jones adviser stated that “aggressive jihad must be made against… non-compromising non-Muslim states to subdue them” (Chapter 11).

Our pointing out these documented facts are not in any way intended to demonize Mr. DeLorenzo or Mr. Usmani. They have the right to express their opinions and political views, whether we agree or disagree. But we find it inconsistent for the Wall Street Journal to support such individuals with “political Islam” ties and views for a protracted (and in the case of Mr. DeLorenzo) continuing period, while a Wall Street Journal editorial board writer claims to object to “political Islam.”

The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones, is in no position to lecture to Americans on “political Islam,” certainly not until it addresses its own financial support for those who have supported “political Islam.” Nor is this some surprise to the Wall Street Journal, with a new member to its editorial board. Ms. Rabinowitz joined the Wall Street Journal in 1990.

The fact remains that we can challenge those political groups that promote religious supremacy of any religion, and who reject our consistent universal human rights and democratic values. But our human rights and political challenges does not give us the right to attack or condemn any one religion or all of it adherents.

Nor does our human rights argument, as shown in the case of the Wall Street Journal, give us the right to blithely ignore American Constitutional rights and our universal human rights – for all. It does not. Not at 45-51 Park Place, not anywhere.

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 those views that seek to demonize those of any one religion or any one identity group. We also reject those views that seek to deny our universal human rights. To R.E.A.L., these are not contradictory or conflicting positions. They are the consistent message of those who are consistently responsible for equality and liberty.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

New York Daily News Poll Shows Majority Support Planned Islamic Center

The New York Daily News (NYDN) reported on the unanimous decision by the Landmark Preservation Commission not to designate 45-51 Park Place as a NYC landmark, allowing for the creation a planned Islamic center at that location.

45-51 Park Place, Planned as Islamic Center, Currently Used for Friday Prayers (Photo: Lennihan/AP)

Along with the NYDN news report, NYDN also had a poll of readers on the issue, and 62 percent of them stated: “Yes there is no reason why it should not be there”

New York Daily News Poll Results on 45-51 Park Place Islamic Center

Why the ADL is Wrong in Rejecting Mosque Construction in NYC

In a posting on the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) web site under civil rights, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement on the planned Islamic Community Center at 45-51 Park Place, New York City. Beginning in June 2010, opponents have sought to block efforts to expand their facility at 45-51 Park Place.

In its July 28, 2010 statement, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) joins those who oppose the development of the planned Islamic Community Center. While ADL states that is supports freedom of religion, the ADL states “this is not a question of rights, but a question of what is right.” The ADL statement concludes: “In our judgment, building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain – unnecessarily – and that is not right.”

As Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has pointed out Muslims have held prayer services at the 45-51 Park Place location since December 2009. 45 Park Place is a good two blocks away from “Ground Zero,” or as one person has calculated about 600 feet (that’s roughly about two American football fields). In the dense concrete jungle of New York City, two blocks might as well be a mile away in terms of visibility.

Individuals and groups may have a rainbow of subjective opinions about what is “right” or “wrong,” which they are entitled to have. But America as a nation, and for the human beings around the world, ensuring justice and fair treatment for all is not based primarily on our subjective opinions on what we like and what we don’t like, but on our objective guarantees for freedoms for all Americans and all human beings.

America’s Constitution provides objective guarantees for our freedom of religion under the 1st Amendment, which were freedoms defended by America’s founding fathers long before the passage of the Bill of Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, created after the horror of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, was a unified message to say “Never Again” by seeking to objectively defend everyone’s right to freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship. 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.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) mandate is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike.” Without supporting our universal human rights, there cannot be justice and fair treatment to anyone, anywhere. To those in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Tennessee, who seek to gain legitimacy for protests against mosques by flying the Israeli flag or claiming their protests are based on their views on Israel, they do not represent American Jews, but they represent simply those who seek to deny human rights to others.

There have been many American Jews, including NYC Mayor Bloomberg who understand the importance of defending our objective guarantees of our Constitutional and human rights, for all people.

The Associated Press reported on the astonishment by many American Jews and Jewish groups on the ADL statement, reporting “Its position on the mosque was met with shock and condemnation by several groups. Jeremy Ben-Ami, head of J Street, the dovish, pro-Israel group, said he would hope ADL would be at the forefront in defending the freedom of a religious minority, ‘rather than casting aspersions on its funders and giving in to the fear-mongerers.'”

On July 30, 2010, the Jewish activist group J Street’s President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following press release:

— “The principle at stake in the Cordoba House controversy goes to the heart of American democracy and the value we place on freedom of religion. Should one religious group in this country be treated differently than another? We believe the answer is no.”
— “As Mayor Bloomberg has said, proposing a church or a synagogue for that site would raise no questions. The Muslim community has an equal right to build a community center wherever it is legal to do so. We would hope the American Jewish community would be at the forefront of standing up for the freedom and equality of a religious minority looking to exercise its legal rights in the United States, rather than casting aspersions on its funders and giving in to the fear-mongerers and pandering politicians urging it to relocate.”
— “What better ammunition to feed the Osama bin Ladens of the world and their claim of anti-Muslim bias in the United States as they seek to whip up global jihad than to hold this proposal for a Muslim religious center to a different and tougher standard than other religious institutions would be.”

The AP also stated that the “Rev. Welton Gaddy, head of the Interfaith Alliance, a Washington advocacy group, said he read the ADL statement ‘with a great deal of sorrow.’ ‘As an organization that for nearly 100 years has helped set the standard for fighting defamation and securing justice and fair treatment for all, it is disappointing to see the ADL arrived at this conclusion,” Gaddy said.”

The growing coast-to-coast, anti-mosque, anti-Islam campaign in America must be defied organizations and individuals that are willing to stand up consistently for our universal human rights. On July 30, 2010, in Temecula, California, protesters against a mosque there showed up with a dog and signs such “No more mosques in America” to harass worshipers during the Muslim Friday worship services.

There are other international groups that recognize this anti-mosque campaign in America as a human rights disgrace, including those who have been victims of attacks by radical extremists.

A year after a mob of 20,000 came to burn down Christian homes and churches in Gojra, Pakistan, and weeks after Pakistan Christians were gunned down on courthouse steps for apocyrphal “blasphemy” charges, The Pakistan Christian Post published “‘Mosque’ ado about nothing. by Parvez Ahmed,” which condemns the NYC mosque protests. In India, Hindus have suffered for many, many decades of endless terrorist attacks, including the Mumbai terrorist attacks that left the city in flames. However, on July 29, The Hindu published ‘Refudiate’ Palin’s bigotry, condemning the protests against mosques in America, stating “Opposition to the project remains strong and vocal, fueled by a mix of prejudice, paranoia, and misinformation… It would be a great pity if the most liberal-minded of American cities joins the list of places that suffer from Islamophobia.”

For a human rights groups, it is always a question of defending our human rights, including the objective, universal human right for “everyone” of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship.

Those who consistently support our universal human rights don’t support calls to block the construction of any house of worship, of any faith, anywhere.

Our universal human rights and American Constitutional freedoms are not just for those we like or who are like us. We stand with NYC Mayor Bloomberg, we stand with J Street, we stand with interfaith groups, we stand with Hindu groups, we stand with Christian groups, and we stand with all those Americans and our brothers and sisters in humanity with the courage to consistently support our universal human rights for all people.

We urge all to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

California Mosque Protest: Protesters Call for “No More Mosques in America”

On July 30, 2010, in Temecula, California a group protested outside the current facilities being used by the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley, while the Islamic Center is planning to build a mosque in Temecula, where it purchased land in 2005. As previously reported, the facility is a business warehouse where area Muslims go to worship. According to KABC news, “The existing Islamic center has been operating in Temecula out of an industrial building for almost 10 years.”

The Islamic Center of Temecula is currently holding religious services in a warehouse (Photo: Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times) — The Islamic Center of Temecula has held worship services in an industrial building for nearly 10 years (Photo: Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times)

Those opposed to the planned mosque went outside the existing Islamic Center facilities during the Friday worship services to protest “no more mosques in America.”

The protesters with loudspeakers and signs, denounced the right of the Islamic Center or any Muslims to their freedom of religion to hold worship services in mosques, with signs such as “No More Mosques in America,” “Mosques are Monuments to Terrorism,” “No Rights for Mosques,” and “Stop Taqiyya – Lies to Non Muslims to protect and spread Islam.”

California: Anti-Mosque Protesters in Temecula (Photo 1 Reuters, Photo 2 YouTube, Photo 3 Press-Enterprise, Photo 4 KABC, Photo 5 KPCC, Photo 6 KABC)

The Southwest Riverside News Network (SWRN) reported that there were about 35 anti-mosque protesters. SWRN reported that “Using a bullhorn, the protesters shouted anti-Islamic slogans as Muslim families came to worship Friday afternoon. ‘Go back home’ and ‘We don’t want you here,’ the protesters said.”

Temecula, California Anti-Mosque Protesters (Photo: Press-Enterprise, Terry Pierson)

According to the Valley News, “many of the mosque foes equated Muslims to ‘terrorists’,” and that “Ernie White, who described himself as a possible candidate for Temecula City Council in November, was among the most outspoken critics of the mosque plan.” Ernie White is an activist with a California Tea Party group in the Riverside, California area.

Tea Party Activist Ernie White at Anti-Mosque Protest in Temecula, California (Photo: Press-Enterprise, Terry Pierson)

The Temecula anti-mosque protest was publicized online by the national Tea Party Patriots web site, by a group called the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group. The event was publicized by a Tea Party activist, Diana Serafin. R.E.A.L. was told by news media sources in California that while Diana Serafin had posted the promotion of the event, she was not actively organizing it. But the Press-Enterprise news media interviewed Tea Party activist Diana Serafin at the Temecula anti-mosque protest on July 30, 2010.

Tea Party Activist Diane Serafin at Anti-Mosque Protest in Temecula (Photo: Still from Press-Enterprise Video) — Tea Party Activist Diana Serafin at Anti-Mosque Protest in Temecula (Photo: Still from Press-Enterprise Video)

The Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group had planned to “pack the house” to reject the Temecula mosque at a government hearing scheduled for August 18, but Temecula officials have postponed the hearing to November.

On Diana Serafin’s posting at the national Tea Party Patriots web site, she described the anti-mosque protest as “Silent Majority Silent No More! We will not be Submissive! An Islamic Mosque is planned to be built in Temecula. We are holding a Singing – Praying – Patriotic rally on Friday on the side of the road on Rio Nedo in Temecula. Bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voice on Friday to let everyone know we are a Christian community and will not tolerate Sharia law and radical behavior.”

On July 29, 2010, R.E.A.L. reported in an interview with California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne that she believed that some California Tea Party activists rejected the mosque protest. R.E.A.L. has publicized an online petition for Tea Party activists to sign to publicly support freedom of religion and disassociate themselves with protests against houses of worship. To date, it has just one signature by one Tea Party activist – Shellie Milne.

The Valley News reported that “The anti-mosque rally was largely publicized via a July 18 electronic newsletter that was distributed to newspapers and local conservative political activists. The rally notice was listed among opinion pieces and upcoming activities planned by Republican and Tea Party activists.”

Another one of the protesters, Zorina Bennett of Temecula, was one of the mosque protesters, who told the Los Angeles Times that Muslims “are known terrorists.” Zorina Bennett brought her dog Meadow to the protest in the belief that many Muslims view the saliva of dogs as impure, when going to pray. According to the Valley News, Zorina Bennett “carried a sign fashioned in the shape of a cross. ‘This is America. This is a Christian country, not a Muslim country.'”

Other anti-mosque protesters speaking to the press included: Mano Bakh of Wildomar with a sign “No More Mosques in America, according to SWRN’s report;” Cynthia Daum (Cynthia Don?) with a sign “No Allah’s Law Here” who told KPCC “I do no want them here just like I do not want the illegal Hispanic people here, I don’t want ’em.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, “One of the most heated moments came around 12:20 p.m. when Fred Carlson, a heavy equipment operator from Temecula, drove his pickup truck past the Islamic Center twice, calling Muslims ‘pedophiles’ and hurling a few curse words.”

KPCC Southern Public Radio Network news reported that local Calvary Baptist Church pastor Bill Rench had sent out an open letter to parishioners stating that “We certainly find ample cause to oppose the spread of Islam.”

According to the Valley News, “The protesters were outnumbered by mosque supporters – some from as far away as Los Angeles and San Diego – who carried signs and gave speeches of their own. Many of them sat under a shade awning in front of the Islamic Center and wore lapel tags with the word ‘Friend’ printed upon them.”

KABC Video of Temecula Mosque Protest

Press-Enterprise News Video of Temecula Mosque Protest

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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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Previous R.E.A.L. Postings:

— California Tea Party Activist Denounces Temecula Mosque Protest

— California: Temecula Mosque Protest for July 30 Promoted on National Tea Party Web Site

— Temecula: Tea Party Anti-Islam Mosque Protest Planned for July 30

— California: Anti-Islam Tea Party Group Protests Temecula Mosque Plans

— Tea Party and Islam Postings

Other Media Reports:

— KABC News: Protesters denounce planned mosque in Temecula

— Valley News: Proposed Temecula mosque sparks heated emotions for, against plan

— Southwest Riverside News Network: Both sides air opinions in verbal battle over Temecula mosque proposal

— Southwest Riverside News Network: Opponents, supporters of Temecula mosque square off in shouting match

— KPCC Southern California Public Radio: Conservative protestors target Temecula Islamic Center

— Press-Enterprise: Temecula mosque plan sparks protest

— Los Angeles Times: Small group protests the building of a mosque in Temecula

— New York Times: Across Nation, Mosque Projects Meet Opposition

— Illume: Jummah Tea Party Protest Against Temecula Mosque

California Tea Party Activist Denounces Temecula Mosque Protest

In an emailed press release titled “Menifee, Hemet, and Murrieta Tea Parties not involved in Temecula Mosque Protests,” California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne states that “The organizers of the Menifee, Hemet, and Murrieta Tea Parties wish to emphatically state that not only are they not involved in organizing any planned Mosque protest, but that we would strongly condemn the use of dogs to harass anybody, anywhere.” The press release also stated that “The vast majority of Tea Party people are honest, decent, patriotic Americans who love their country and believe in the values that made America great. We are neither racists or ‘Islamophobes.'” An excerpt of Shellie Milne’s press release was also posted as a comment on the Huffington Post.

California Tea Party Activist Shelli Milne Opposes Temecula Mosque Protest (Photo: Menifee/Sun City Tea Party Meetup Group) — California Tea Party Activist Shellie Milne Opposes Temecula Mosque Protest (Photo: Menifee/Sun City Tea Party Meetup Group)

The national Tea Party Patriots website lists Shellie Milne as a contact of local California Tea Parties in Riverside County, and refers to their web site at MenifeeTeaParty.com, which redirects you to the “Tea Parties of Riverside County.” The “Tea Parties of Riverside County” website includes their complete press release on the Temecula mosque protest. Shellie Milne’s telephone numbers are listed on that website as the point of contact for weekly “Tea Parties of Riverside County” meetings. Shellie Milne has told Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) that her activism included going to help others create and build new Tea Party organizations in California.

A meetup group also lists Shellie Milne as the Assistant Organizer of Menifee/Sun City Tea Party. A meetup group for the Murrieta Tea Party shows Shellie Milne as an Assistant Organizer, where on September 1, 2009, she wrote “Our family is new to the area and very determined to take our Country back. The Constitution must be saved. Sitting on the computer and just talking about it is not going to help anyone – get up and educate those around you.” Shellie Milne is also a member of “Moms for America.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty’s (R.E.A.L.) Jeffrey Imm reached out to California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne for further details from her press release. California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne stated that she was a firm supporter of the United States Constitution and all of its freedoms, including freedom of religion. In her press release, Shellie Milne stated that Tea Party representatives are not “Islamophobes.” As a Mormon, Shellie Milne told R.E.A.L. that she was familiar with religious discrimination, and she supports the U.S. Constitutional freedom of religion.

California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne stated that the local Tea Parties around Temecula had a meeting of leaders who stated their objection to the mosque protest plans by the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group led by Diana Serafin, who Shellie Milne said that she knew. Shellie Milne stated that other local Tea Parties were going to prepare a press announcement rejecting the Temecula mosque protest, which we have not yet received, and we will provide an updated report should we receive any further press release.

California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne stated that local Tea Party groups had had “trouble” with the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group, and have sought to distance themselves from that group. In addition, Shellie Milne stated that the national Tea Party Patriots was a group that “anyone could join,” and that the Tea Party Patriots has had difficulty policing its website due to such openness.

Shellie Milne stated that the Tea Party Patriots had attempted to remove the mosque protest event posted there by the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group, but apparently the Tea Party Patriots has been unable to remove the continued July 30 event listing for the Temecula mosque protest that R.E.A.L. reported on July 28. Shellie Milne suggested that this may be due to some technical problem with the Tea Party Patriots website. On the “New Patriot Journal” listed as the news section for the Tea Party Patriots, we have been unable to see any reference to Temecula or the Temecula mosque, or any public statement on the Tea Party Patriots’ rejection of the Temecula mosque protest.

R.E.A.L. asked Shellie Milne about the other Tea Party groups and leaders that have made derogatory comments against Islam and sought to lead or support protests against American mosques, including high profile political individuals with or linked to the Tea Party.

Shellie Milne stated that she believed that the Tea Party was to support the U.S. Constitution and its freedoms, no matter what your emotional feelings might be about any one group. Shellie Milne stated her supporters reject the Temecula mosque protest planned for July 30 in California. Shellie Milne stated that she believed that those who do not focus on defending the U.S. Constitution are missing the point of what the Tea Party is about.

R.E.A.L. encourages others in the Tea Party movement to follow the leadership of Shellie Milne to reject “Islamophobia” and to recognize our freedom of religion and freedom of worship is defended by U.S. Constitution that the Tea Party activists state that they are seeking to defend.

Throughout July 2010, R.E.A.L. has contacted the National Tea Party organization FreedomWorks (1-888-564-6273) for comment on stories that continue to arise on Tea Party leaders, Islam, and mosque protests, and has not yet heard back from them on this issue. A search of “mosque” or “Temecula” on the FreedomWorks website shows no comments on the Temecula mosque protest or any mosque protest. (We have received feedback from FreedomWorks on racial issues in the recent past, but not on the mosque protests or statements on Islam.) Other R.E.A.L. supporters have contacted the Los Angeles Tea Party group and other California Tea Party groups on this topic. Shireen Qudosi posted an article on the topic “Tea Party Protest Against Temecula Mosque Points to Rising Tensions Between Islam and Right Wing Groups” at Qudosi.com.

Since there is no central leadership of the “Tea Party,” the challenge is that different groups all claim to represent the “Tea Party” view. On July 4, 2010, the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group, whose leader has promoted the Temecula mosque protest, stated that it had 25 individuals at its July 4 “parade” event. The question remains, on protests against mosques and Islam by Tea Party members around America, who speaks for the Tea Party on this issue, and why do the national Tea Party organizations remain silent on supporting freedom of religion and worship?

SWRC Tea Party Citizens in Action (Left) and Murietta Tea Party (Right) - the SWRC Tea Party Leader Promotes Temecula Mosque Protest, the Murietta Tea Party Leader Denounces It - Who Speaks for the Tea Parties on Freedom of Religion and Worship?

To other Tea Party activists who seek to stand up in support of freedom of religion and worship, we invite them (as we did at the beginning of July) to contact us at responsible.public@gmail.com, or to sign our online petition on this

On the R.E.A.L. website, we created a category for this topic called “Tea Party and Islam,” to allow readers to follow our reports on this subject, as we get additional news, statements, and reports on this subject.

The shortcut for this category is: http://bit.ly/tea-islam

While national Tea Party groups are silent on this issue, there are Tea Party groups and leaders around the country that continue to protest mosques and hold events on Islam. In the coast-to-coast protests against mosques and Islam, too often the Tea Party organizations keep getting mentioned.

The Texas NE Tarrant Tea Party is holding a July 29 event in a Texas school on how to stop the “Islamization of America,” days after an attack on an Arlington, Texas mosque children’s playground and harassment of worshipers. Led by “European Judeo-Christian” “culturist” John Press, the Brooklyn Tea Party’s leader is now calling for eminent domain to stop the construction of a mosque in Brooklyn, weeks after a Brooklyn protester told the press that he would “bomb the mosque.” Tennessee Tea Party groups and candidates for Congressional office continue to seek to protest and block a proposed mosque, while mosque signs have been vandalized. Unwillingness to defend freedom of religion and freedom of worship has consequences.

California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne’s responsibility in denouncing the planned Temecula protest against house of worship is an example that other Tea Party activists should support, if they support American Constitutional and universal human rights.

At the beginning of July 2010, R.E.A.L. created an online petition for Tea Party supporters to sign and show their public support for freedom of religion and freedom of worship. It simply states: “This petition is provided for Tea Party activists who support the United States Constitution, including our freedom of religion and worship, which must not be interfered with according to the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. This petition is for those Tea Party Activists who do NOT accept protests against mosques or any other houses of worship. This petition is for those Tea Party activists that seek to disassociate with those Tea Party activists who reject our universal human rights of freedom of worship and religion — for all. ”

R.E.A.L. is waiting for the first signature.

The online petition is at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/tpfree/petition.html

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Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

California: Temecula Mosque Protest for July 30 Promoted on National Tea Party Web Site

The Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group planned July 30 “rally” at the existing house of worship of the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley continues to be posted on the national Tea Party Patriots website, calling for attendees to bring “dogs” to protest the current Islamic center worship center on Friday, July 30, during afternoon prayers. See the Tea Party Patriots website at: http://www.teapartypatriots.org/EventDetail/6243/July%2030,%202010

http://bit.ly/tp-mosque-protest

The event is reportedly led by Diana Serafin or someone using her name and telephone number, who has led other Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group events promoted by the Tea Party Patriots group. The contact person Diana 951-677-7884 listed for the Tea Party Patriots Mosque Protest on July 30, is the same telephone number as “Diana Serafin 951-677-7884” for a May Tea Party event also listed on the Tea Party Patriots web site.

The Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group has been repeatedly promoted on the national Tea Party Patriots website. On July 2, 2010, the Tea Party Patriot website showed Diana Serafin as leading the SWRC Tea Party Citizens in Action group, with a link to their website at http://www.wethepeople-swrc.com/

A Diana Serafin has been promoting the “Southwest Riverside County Tea Party (CA)” on ResistNet.com.

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National Tea Party Patriots Web Site Promotes Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action Group Mosque "Rally" (July 28, 2010 Screen Shot of Tea Party Patriots Web Site)

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Tea Party Patriot Web Site List Diana Serafin's Telephone Number - the Same One on the Tea Party Patriot Web Site for the Temecula Mosque Protest (Screen Shot: Tea Party Patriots)

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See also our previous postings

— Temecula: Tea Party Anti-Islam Mosque Protest Planned for July 30

— California: Anti-Islam Tea Party Group Protests Temecula Mosque Plans

— Coast-to-Coast Anti-Islam Movement Results in Protests, Attacks Against Mosques

— Texas Tea Party Group Plans July 29 Event on “Islamization of America”

— Tea Party and Mosques in America

— Tea Party and Islam Reports – Category

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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 support freedom of expression and freedom of speech as one of our universal human rights, including freedom of even objectionable speech and expression as a human right. But we recognize that protests against houses of worship and tactics of intimidation and threats are often used to defy and deny freedom of religion. We defend the right of all people to BELIEVE, and we urge you to sign our petition showing your support for the freedom of conscience for all.

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.