Only if humans could learn from animals to coexist. For the Muslim Times’ collection to tackle Islamophobia
The Huffington Post:
By Anu Joshi; Activist, blogger, waylaid Californian
This Friday and Saturday, a group of loosely connected protesters plan to host anti-Muslim demonstrations in front of approximately 20 mosques, community centers and government offices under the banner of a “Global Rally for Humanity.”
A Facebook page explains the reasoning behind the planned protests, arguing that “[h]umanity is attacked daily by radical Islam,” and calling for protests in “every country at every Mosque.” The page encourages “patriots” around the country to set up events in their own towns. And while some organizers have urged participants to leave their weapons at home, others are encouraging protesters to exercise “ALL of your Constitutional Rights.
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About 500 protesters gathered outside the Phoenix mosque on Friday as police kept two groups sparring about Islam far apart from each other.
That means that this weekend, at about 20 sites around the country, Muslim American men, women and children going to mosques will be forced to walk by signs maligning their faith and accusing them of being un-American and violent, will be forced to listen to men and women shouting at them urging them to “go home” or worse, and some will even be confronted by protesters carrying weapons, meant to intimidate and frighten. All under the guise of a “Global Rally for Humanity.” The irony might be laughable, if the anti-Muslim hate was not so real.
Although it might be tempting to dismiss these protesters as part of a racist, fringe movement, not to be taken seriously, that would be a mistake. The organized anti-Muslim movement in this country is well-financed, well-organized and pervasive in American politics. And while the men and women participating in these ugly rallies targeting houses of worship may seem extreme, they are actually the physical manifestation of an ugly and deliberate rhetoric against American Muslims, and those perceived to be Muslim, that has long been a part of the mainstream American public discourse.
Bigotry and hatred against American Muslims is not an imagined problem, and it’s not one that we can afford to ignore. Every day, American Muslims are confronted with bigotry while driving to work and school, applying for jobs, practicing their faith, and simply living their lives.
But these acts of bigotry are not limited just to interpersonal transgressions, they play out on a national stage, in public policy and in pop culture. From a Republican presidential candidate proclaiming that a Muslim American should not be president, to the erasing of American Muslim achievements from Tennessee schoolbooks, to a 14 year-old boy in Texas being arrested for bringing a clock to school, American Muslims have been facing an onslaught of attacks from all sides.
These personal and public acts of bigotry and racism are having an effect. Recent polling in North Carolina revealed that 72% of the state’s residents do not believe a Muslim American should be president, and 40% believe Islam should be illegal in the United States. According to Gallup, about one-half of nationally representative samples of Mormons, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, and Jews in the United States agree that, in general, most Americans are prejudiced toward Muslim Americans.
Until we confront the anti-Muslim prejudice that has pervaded our national conversations and our daily lives, we cannot pretend that these rallies are anything but the natural outcome of our blasé attitude toward bigotry and discrimination. We must use these rallies not only as an opportunity to organize against discrimination, but as a reminder that we cannot flag in our work to counter those who spread hate based on religion, race, or any other perceived difference.
On his Facebook event page, John Ritzheimer, the organizer of the Phoenix rally, makes the call for “all AMERICANS who still LOVE LIBERTY and cling to the CONSTITUTION!!” to come and show support. I guess I’m doing the same.
Follow Anu Joshi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/anu22
Categories: Americas, Anti-Islam ADS, Anti-Islam Attitude, Anti-Islam Campaign, Islamophobia
How Interfaith Activists Will Counter This Week’s Anti-Muslim Rallies
By Carol Kuruvilla; Religion Associate Editor, The Huffington Post
Even though statistics show that domestic terrorism and white supremacists are a much bigger threat to Americans than radical Islam, anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crimes have swelled in America in recent years.
Now, a disturbing string of nationally coordinated rallies — some that may draw angry and armed protestors — is being planned for October 9 and October 10 at roughly 20 mosques or Islamic centers across the country. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has warned mosques to take extra security measures during the so-called “Global Rally for Humanity” events. Muslim leaders are advising the community to take the “moral high ground” and avoid direct confrontation with protestors who bring messages of hate onto sacred ground.
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Muhammadans who enter churches to attack the worshipers do not issue any warning to their victims. If the planners of the demonstrations are giving advance notice of the impending action then they are exhibiting a civility and sophistication which those who attack churches without warning lack. Besides, the demonstrations will take place outside, not inside, the muhammadan centres. That is also a huge difference.
“Global Rally for Humanity.”?? Muslims are humans too.The pamphlet “Message of peace” can be delivered to them.A message from AMJ USA. Chances favor the trained minds.!!!!
Who ever said; Muhammadans who enter churches to attack the worshipers did not issue any warning to their victims.They were from alqaida or some banned groups mohammadans.
Namelee the Holy Quran defines Jihad as defending Churches and Synagogues, in other words religious freedom of every one. Reference: Sura Hajj
Love thy Neighbor is a Christian Value, Hate and Stereotyping aren’t
Zia,
Sura 5:49 urges ‘believers’ not take Jews and Christians as friends and protectors because they are friends to each other. “WHOEVER OF YOU SEEKS THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORTS THEM SHALL BECOME ONE OF THEIR NUMBER”.
Why is allah against muhammadans befriending the so-called people of the book? Allah answers:”ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THE WRONGDOERS”.
To allah, its prophet and all muhammadans Christians and Jews are wrongdoers who do not merit being associated with.
Then of course, there is sura 9:26 where allah places curses on Christians and Jews for their belief even though the accusation on the Jews is false as they have never acknowledged anyone called ‘Uzayr’ as the ‘son of God’.
Based on these and more verses, muhammadan scholars have declared that the church is not a proper place of worship.
If what you say is correct, why have the Saudis banned churches in the kingdom? Do they read a different quran?
Your posturing is meant for the ignorant and indulging West.
Dr Khan,
I will like to see proof that Rasheed Abdul Aziz who entered the Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Bullard, Texas, on Sunday, Sept 13, 2015, was an al Qaeda operative. Also that the young man who short his father to death inside a Church during a Christmas service, for not converting to muhammadanism, had something to do with al Qaeda.
On Friday, Jan. 19, 2015, a group of exiles, granted asylum in Italy, desecrated the statue of the Madonna in the small chapel of St Barnabas, Perugia. If those hoodlums were al Qaeda members, then that strengthens the argument against showing any sympathy for the invaders who are wrongly classified as refugees.
All those attacks went without warning quite unlike the planned demonstrations.