Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception. We reject protests against houses of worship. We reject violence and attacks on houses of worship, and the continuing coast-to-coast protests against mosques around America today.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns the ongoing religious intolerance in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as it has previously reported. R.E.A.L. reported on the 600 individuals against the Murfreesboro mosque expansion at a public hearing June 17, 2010. R.E.A.L then followed up with another report on continuing vandalism against the Murfreesboro mosque signs, and opposition to the Murfreesboro mosque by local Tea Party leaders and politicians.
On July 14, 2010, Tennessee anti-mosque protesters demonstrated their opposition to the Murfreesboro mosque expansion by a march against the mosque down East Main Street in Murfreesboro. Hundreds of anti-mosque protesters marched in the streets of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, some waving American, Gadsden, and Israeli flags. Some had signs that read “to embrace Islam is to embrace terrorism,” “Never forget – just say no to the Rutherford County Commissioners and the Islamic mosque,” some with signs that listed the commissioners who had supported the mosque.
Anti-mosque protest leader Kevin Fisher was one of 20 speakers and a primary organizer of the anti-mosque protest event. Kevin Fisher is a former candidate for the local school board and the state legislature, according to APB.
On July 6, 2010, the Daily News Journal (DNJ) publicly reported on political leader Kevin Fisher’s calls for the Tennessee public to join him in the anti-mosque protest in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (see also screen shot).
Kevin Fisher has also expressed his opposition to other belief systems, including the Falun Dafa / Falun Gong, who have been oppressed by the Communist Chinese party for 11 years, and which in March 2010 received a U.S. Congressional resolution opposing their oppression in the Communist nation.
Marchers also included anti-mosque Tea Party Congressional candidates Lou Ann Zelenik and George Erdel. The Daily News Journal reported that George Erdel helped to organize the July 14 anti-mosque protest in Tennessee, stating: “Erdel also helped organize the march, using a bullhorn to give instructions before the parade began. He also handed the bullhorn to Dusty Ray, the pastor of Heartland Baptist Church at Walter Hill where Erdel attends. Ray led the large group gathered on the Central Magnet School grounds in prayer about their march in opposition to the plans of local Muslims.”
According to the Associated Baptist Press (ABP), Heartland Baptist Church is “independent,” and Heartland Baptist Church Christian Pastor Dusty Ray led Christian prayers for the anti-mosque march because “My main concern is that our freedoms are being threatened.”
The anti-mosque marchers in Tennessee were not without opposition. The ABP reported that “The anti-mosque marchers were met at the public square by an equally large, if not larger, crowd estimated at more than 400 by organizers of Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom. The group, composed largely of students at the local Middle Tennessee State University, was formed hastily to counter the protest.”
APB also reported that “‘I think things went really well,’ said Hudson Wilkins, a member of the organizing committee that recruited members in various ways including contacting local churches and on the Facebook social-networking Internet site. ‘We came together. We made our point, which is religious freedom is a constitutional right and civil liberty in this country. That is religious freedom for all people.'”
Daily News Journal: “Mosque leads to Square off” — Photo Album
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Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths, including the freedom of religion supported under Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.
We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.
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Other R.E.A.L. Reports:
Protests Against Houses of Worship
Coast-to-Coast Anti-Islam Movement Results in Protests, Attacks Against Mosques
Tennessee: New Vandalism at Mosque – “Tea Party” Candidate Rejects Mosque Proposal
Tennessee Mosque Plans Under Protest
Tennessee: White Supremacist Nazi Gets 4 Years in Prison for Mosque Firebombing
Tennessee Man Sentenced to 183 Months in Prison for Burning Islamic Center
