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Meeting To Discuss Mosque On Staten Island Ends Predictably
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 10, 2010
Modified Jun 10, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 10, 2010
Modified Jun 10, 2010
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Over 350 Staten Island residents packed an activity center to capacity last night to enjoy a calm, rational discussion about a mosque that the Muslim American Alliance [MAS] wants to build on the site of an old convent recently purchased from the Archdiocese of New York. But the discourse was not as refined as you might have expected!
"This is our D-Day!" shouted one resident, according to SI Live. "We’re here to try to save our neighborhood." One woman angrily told the three local representatives of MAS, "I'd like to know why the MAS is on the watch list for terrorism." (MAS is not.) And Robert Spencer of jihadwatch.org repeatedly asked, "Do you denounce Hamas and Hizballah?" One of the MAS reps finally replied, "MAS denounces any act of terror in the United States or outside." And after two hours of jeering and interruptions, the civic association abruptly ended the meeting when the MAS reps were unable make themselves heard over the mob.
Spencer's question about Hamas stems from a video showing the current director of MAS’ advocacy arm, Mahdi Bray, voicing support for Hezbollah and Hamas at a rally. MAS says the video was shot long before Bray began working with the society, and Bray has "categorically denied" that he is a supporter of Hezbollah or Hamas, or a terrorist supporter. But it's obvious that nothing they say will change some people's deeply inbred ingrained perception that Islam=terrorism. As one Muslim-American put it after last night's meeting abruptly ended, "They are not educated enough to know the difference between Muslims and terrorists."
Watch the video below for your daily dose of Americans at their ugliest. The nastiness picks up around the 1:40 mark.
MAS is Rejected at Mosque Hearing in Midland Beach
Tagged
mas
mosque
muslim american society
staten island
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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