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King's Comments On Islam Countered By Times Square Rally
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 7, 2011
Modified Mar 7, 2011
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 7, 2011
Modified Mar 7, 2011
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Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, charged this weekend that American Muslims aren't helping in the fight against terrorism. "Certainly my dealings with the police in New York and FBI and others say they do not believe they get the same — they do not give the level of cooperation that they need," he said of American Muslims with law enforcement. King has planned Congressional hearings this week on radicalization within the Muslim community, but yesterday between 500 and 1,000 people gathered in Times Square to protest the hearings, which they say "demonize" Muslims. Speaker Russell Simmons said, “It’s our job to stand up and protect them because if they go, we’re next—blacks, Jews.”
The “Today I Am a Muslim Too” rally was organized by over 75 interfaith, civil liberties and nonprofit groups. Imam Shamsi Ali said, “I am a Muslim but I love this country as much as any Christian or Jew loves his country. We are here today because we love this country. We are here today because we want to see America remain the most powerful and the most beautiful country in the world.” And Rabbi Marc Schneier argued, “To single out Muslim-Americans as the source of homegrown terrorism and not examine all forms of violence motivated by extremist belief, that my friends is an injustice.”
A few blocks away, a smaller group rallied in favor of the Congressional hearings. Bill Byrne of 9/11 Hardhats said, "And we're requesting all Muslims—if you don't help us we have no other option: we have to stop immigration of all Muslims. That should be our ultimate solution." Many also protested for no Sharia law, but Byrne was fine with declaring, "God Bless America!" But it's different because his god is the right god! As for what radicalization really looks like, here's a sick video of a Tea Party-organized protest against a Muslim group raising money to fight homelessness in their neighborhood in California. If you've somehow held onto some small amount of faith in humanity, this should take care of it:
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