mosque protest – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Kentucky: Mosque Protest Efforts in Florence

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

But today, in yet another of the continuing coast-to-coast protests against mosques around America, anti-Islam activists are seeking to recruit protesters to demand a halt to plans since 2008 to build a mosque in Florence, Kentucky, with claims that the local mosque is part of an effort in the “takeover of our country.” Mosque protesters are also stating that who object their efforts to deny religious freedom and freedom of worship to Kentucky Muslims are “anti-American people” who are “free to leave” the country.

According to the Kentucky Courier-Journal, the application was filed in April 2008 and approved by the Boone County Planning Commission in June 2008.

The North Kentucky Enquirer reported that a group called the “Mercy Foundation, Inc., has approval to build a mosque near Mall Road in Florence, with another report states is to be built at 900 Cayton Road. The Enquirer states the effort is led by a Florence, Kentucky physician, Mohammed Zineddin, who is president of the Mercy Foundation. Both the Enquirer and the Courier-Journal report that the building area is zoned for Commercial Two (C-2) allowing religious buildings. FOX 19 News reported that the mosque was being planned by the Islamic Center of Northern Kentucky.

Kentucky: Plot Where Planned for Florence, Kentucky Mosque (Photo: Fox 19 News)

On July 25, 2010, the North Kentucky Enquirer reported that that “Boone County Assistant Zoning Administrator Mitch Light said there has been no such public response to this plan. ‘We have not heard from anyone opposed to the project,’ Light said.”

Illustrations of the planned Islamic Center of Northern Kentucky’s mosque are online on their website.

Kentucky: Florence Mosque Illustration (Image: Islamic Center of Northern Kentucky)

Apparently this has now changed. According to the August 16, 2010 Kentucky Courier-Journal, the mosque proposal is now receiving “a strong reaction from some in the community,” including calls to Forence city officials, a flier being distributed in Florence neighborhoods.

FOX 19 News reports in its story “Neighborhood flyer rejects mosque”: “A flyer left on doors and mailboxes in a Florence neighborhood is stirring up more attention around a mosque being built nearby. Neighbors we spoke with had mixed feelings about the mosque, but everyone had the same concern, who is circulating the flyer and why didn’t that person/group want to be identified.”

According to the Courier-Journal, the anti-mosque flier states: “Cayton Road is in your neighborhood… Everyone needs to contact Florence City Council to have this stopped. Americans need to stop the takeover of our country.” FOX 19 News has images of the flier including its statement urging protesters to “Do your part to stop the take-over of our country of our country. Use your voice to speak out. If anti-American people do not like the way we are, they are free to leave. We are the United States of America, not an Islamic nation.” The fliers were anonymous, but appears to have the same image as an individual’s Facebook page photo background graphic, with a web site protesting the mosque.

Kentucky: Anti-Mosque Flier Being Circulated (Photo: Fox 19 News)

FOX 19 News has a video report online on the efforts by anti-Islam activists to encourage others to protest the mosque.

The Courier-Journal quotes Joshua Wice, community/business development director for the city of Florence who states that he is not surprised that people have questions, but all of the questions are being answered to people’s satisfaction.

The Courier-Journal also states: “”Much of the criticism has focused on city or county officials for allowing the project to go forward or not holding public hearings, but undue scrutiny or unwarranted efforts to impede the project might well have violated federal laws. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act is often described as federal zoning for religious uses.”

The Courier-Journal also reports on a website “run by a Boone County resident that posts anti-Islamic messages” to seek Florence residents to “Stop the Mosque.”

Kentucy Mosque Protester "The Vigilante" Mark Hallenberg (Photo: Facebook)

The Kentucky anti-Islam, anti-Mosque website called “The Vigilante” describes “Enemy One” as “Islam.” The anti-mosque website is led by a Christian, Mark Hallenberg, in Kentucky who views the anti-mosque campaign as part of promoting “Christian values” and attacking a “Marxist-Socialistic agenda.”

In his protest against the planned mosque and “Northern Kentucky Rising,” Mark Hallenberg claims that he contacted two dozen Boone County residents about the planned Florence, Kentucky mosque, with 50 percent opposing it (according to him). Mr. Hallenberg also calls for an investigation into the funding of the mosque and into Mercy Foundation. He also repeats claims from others that “Islam declared war on the United States.”

On Mark Hallenberg’s web site, he links to the Heritage Foundation, and promotes videos by Pat Condell and Frank Gaffney, and praises Geert Wilders as a political “Braveheart.”

Mark Hallenberg repeats claims by Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) leader Pamela Geller on Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh; SIOA leader Geller claimed in April 2010 that the Oklahoma City bombing was “the first heinous Islamic terror attack on American soil.”

Kentucky mosque protester Mark Hallenberg is also a supporter of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group led by Pamela Geller.

The Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group is the leading organization behind the planned September 11, 2010 protest against the 51 Park Place Islamic Center in New York. SIOA’s top leaders have also been active in mosque protests in Staten Island. After the recent decision not to sell land to a mosque in Staten Island, SIOA leaders and supporters claimed victory, with SIOA supproters stating: “SIOA is mighty and growing stronger every minute. The evil comes out of the mosques, now and in Mohammed’s time. Close and dismantle ALL mosques, mosques have no place in America the Free….One down and so many more to go.”

R.E.A.L. has reported that the SIOA’s Executive Director seeks to recruit members and supports the violent English Defence League group. SIOA supporters have promoted the plan for a “Burn A Qur’an Day,” and call for the criminalization of Islam in America.

Kentucky Anti-Mosque Protest Leader Mark Hallenberg - Supporter of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) Group (Image: Facebook)

Mr. Hallenberg has used the SIOA Facebook since May 2010 to recruit Kentucky supporters for his anti-Islam movement in Kentucky.

Kentucky Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) Supporter Mark Hallenberg Started Recruiting Anti-Islam, Anti-Mosque Supporters for Kentucky in May 2010 (Image: Facebook)

On Mark Hallenberg’s Facebook page, he states that he is a member of the Northern Kentucky Tea Party. R.E.A.L. has contacted the Boone County representative of the Northern Kentucky Tea Party for comment, and received the following response: “The Northern Kentucky Tea Party is not involved in any way with a protest of a planned mosque in Florence, or anywhere. Our issues are those which impact free people of all faiths: Fiscal Responsibility, Limited Government, and Free Markets.””

Mark Hallenberg also claims to work for a survivalist organization that promotes Krista Branch‘s Tea Party supporting video of individuals waving Gadsden flags, “I’ve got some news, we’re taking names, We’re waiting now for the judgment day.”

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

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

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

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

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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 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

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

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.

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

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

The Valley News reports on plans by local individuals in Temecula to hold a protest on Friday July 30 at the existing business warehouse facility where the Islamic Center of Temecula is currently seeking to hold worship services.

The Islamic Center of Temecula is currently holding religious services in a warehouse (Photo: Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times)

The Tea Party Patriots web site showed that this event was planned to be held on Friday July 30 by a group that calls itself the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group and that also plans to “pack the house” in a hearing to protest the planned Temecula mosque. See screen shot of Tea Party Patriots web site list of events (from web cache earlier this week). See also previous posting “California: Anti-Islam Tea Party Group Protests Temecula Mosque Plans.” R.E.A.L. has previously reported on numerous other Tea Party leaders and organizations involved in mosque protests around the country, with no response from the national Tea Party leadership to our inquires for comment.

According to the Valley News in its report “Temecula mosque proposal targeted in pending protest”
— “a loose-knit coalition of area residents is planning a demonstration at the Islamic Center’s existing facility along Rio Nedo west of Murrieta Creek.”
— “An e-mail alert sent to area newspapers last week announced that a one-hour ‘singing – praying – patriotic rally” will begin at 12:30 p.m. July 30 at the Islamic Center’s existing facility. The advisory — sent by a leader of a conservative coalition that has been active with Republican and Tea Party functions – recommended participants ‘bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voices.'”
— “‘We will not be submissive,’ the notice proclaimed. ‘Our voices are going to be heard!’ The alert went on to question what its authors described as Islamic beliefs. It suggested that participants sing during the rally because Muslim ‘women are forbidden to sing.’ It suggested that rally participants bring dogs because Muslims ‘hate dogs.'”

Screen Shot of Tea Party Patriot Website - with SWRC Tea Party Group Plans for Mosque Protest

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

The event is reportedly led by Diana Serafin, who has led other Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group events promoted by the Tea Party Patriots group. The Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group has been repeatedly promoted on the national Tea Party Patriots website. A Diana Serafin has been promoting the “Southwest Riverside County Tea Party (CA)” on ResistNet.com

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California: Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party against Islam and Temecula Mosque (Photo: SWRC Tea Party Web Site)

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The SWRC Tea Party Citizens in Action web site states its mission as “Southwest Riverside County Citizens in Action was created to return the local Tea Party Movement to the people.”

Group Defines Itself as the SWRC Tea Party on Web Site (Photo: SWRC Tea Party Web Site)

SWRC Tea Party Citizens in Action web site states its mission as "Southwest Riverside County Citizens in Action was created to return the local Tea Party Movement to the people." (Screen Shot: SWRC Tea Party Web Site)

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Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) will contact the National Tea Party leadership for comments on this report, and if we receive a statement from them, we will update this posting.

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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.

Staten Island: Planned Mosque Stopped by Archdiocese of NY

Regarding the planned Staten Island/Midland Island mosque, the Archdiocese of New York has withdrawn support for the sale of a former convent building for a new mosque. The mosque was vehemently protested by local individuals and leaders of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group, involved with other mosque protests, and some of whose supporters have recently called for the criminalization of Islam, and have promoted a “Burn a Koran Day.”

Protesters of the Staten Island planned mosque packed a public hearing on June 9, 2010 where they shouted at the planners of the mosque. Some of the protesters had to be led away by police.

Staten Island Mosque Stopped - Images of Protests (Photo 1: NYT, Photo 2 WCBS)

Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) Executive Director Pamela Geller stated in response to the Archdiocese of New York’s decision: “SIOA Executive Director Pamela Geller said in a statement: ‘Congratulations to all the free citizens of Staten Island who stood against this extremist mosque project despite official indifference and harsh criticism from the mainstream media. This is now a textbook case on how to fight extremists.'” “SIOA has published a practical guide for activists who wish to fight against terror-linked and extremist mosques in their localities, and is in the process of expanding this guide. The church’s decision today demonstrates that such activism can be successful.”

In response to SIOA Executive Director Pamela Geller’s SIOA Facebook posting applauding the decision by the Archdiocese to stop the property sale for the Staten Island mosque, one SIOA supporter replied on the SIOA Facebook:
— “SIOA is mighty and growing stronger every minute. The evil comes out of the mosques, now and in Mohammed’s time. Close and dismantle ALL mosques, mosques have no place in America the Free.”
— Another replies: “One down and so many more to go”
— See SIOA posting screen shot

On Sunday, July 18, 2010, SIOA Executive Director Pamela Geller made yet another appeal for support for the violent extremist group “English Defence League” (EDL) which has been involved in multiple riots, and whose members were recently arrested after throwing bricks at riot police officers during their protest of a potential mosque in Dudley (that had already been canceled.) One of the SIOA supporters has darkly claimed that a group like the violent “English Defence League” is being created in America today.

The recent mosque protests are part of a coast-to-coast campaign against Mosques and Islam throughout America. See Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)’s recent post: Coast-to-Coast Anti-Islam Movement Results in Protests, Attacks Against Mosques

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.

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Archdiocese of New York Press Release: Statement on Saint Margaret Mary Parish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2010

STATEMENT ON SAINT MARGARET MARY PARISH

Father Keith Fennessy, pastor of Saint Margaret Mary parish on Staten Island, announced in June that after careful consideration he was withdrawing his support for the planned sale of the parish convent to the Muslim American Society.

The trustees of the parish have met, as legally required under New York State law, and voted to ratify the pastor’s decision.

The Muslim American Society has been informed that the sale of the convent will not take place.

The Archdiocese of New York has enjoyed a good relationship with the Islamic community in the past, and looks forward to continued dialogue, friendship, and understanding in the future.

It is also our prayer that unity will now return to the parish and to the Midland Beach community.

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Screenshot of SIOA Facebook Leader and Supporters Comments on Decision to Stop Building Sale for Staten Island Mosque

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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.”

NYC: Brooklyn Mosque Protests and Bomb Threat

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. (See also report: “Why Freedom of Religion Matters for MAS Mosques”).

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 sponsor of the project, the Muslim American Society (MAS), is also the same sponsor of a mosque project in Midland Beach on Greeley Avenue that is also being protested. The MAS group’s leader, Mahdi Bray, has been investigated for support for Hamas by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) for comments made at a rally in 2000. IPT states that MAS was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood; the IPT states “MAS denies it is a part of the organization, [although] it acknowledges that its foundations are with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Reports have indicated that the protesters are divided between those who view that the Voorhies Avenue cannot accommodate the traffic for a new mosque, and those that reject the planned mosque due to Islamophobic views. The local blog/newspaper Sheepshead Bites addresses this split between the protesters in its article “Rally Reveals Conflict Within Anti-Mosque Movement.”

Voorhies Avenue Signs Protesting Planned Mosque (Photo: Sheepshead Bites)

A protest notice by Bay People, Inc. alleged called for protesters “Please be polite and tolerant.”

But The Brooklyn Paper has reported that one local counter-protester Guseyn Ibragimov who called for freedom of religion, was booed down and “ordered him to get off their street.” The Brooklyn Paper reporter Thomas Tracy also indicated that the divisiveness has spilled over into calls for violence and bombing against the proposed mosque, not unlike those seen in recent reader comments on the New York Post web site and those made on AM radio stations.

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.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

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Media Reports:

The Brooklyn Paper: ‘What kind of America’? Hate-filled rally to stop mosque

Sheepshead Bites: Rally Reveals Conflict Within Anti-Mosque Movement

Photographs of June 27, 2010 protest against New York City mosque in Brooklyn