Thousands rallied in Manhattan’s City Hall Park, near the site of Ground Zero, on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to denounce anti-Muslim bigotry, while blocks away an equal number demonstrated against the proposed Cordoba House Islamic community center at 51 Park Place in lower Manhattan.
At the Unity and Solidarity Rally, speakers denounced racism, urging protesters to fight growing anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the Israel/Palestine conflict. The multiracial crowd heard antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, former U.S. Rep. and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. Attorney Ramsey Clark, the Raging Grannies and representatives of peace, religious, labor, and community organizations including the Albany Central Labor Federation, the Bail Out the People Movement, Riverside Church, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, the Islamic Society of North America, United for Peace and Justice, the Center for Constitutional Rights and Veterans for Peace. The anti-Islamophobia protest was organized by the International Action Center and backed by a broad coalition of leftist, Muslim, Arab and Palestine solidarity groups. Demonstrators marched to Foley Square, chanting and holding signs against anti-Muslim bigotry.
At the anti-Cordoba House rally, the mostly white participants waved U.S. flags and chanted “No mosque here.” Speakers at the anti-community center rally included Pamela Geller, a leading voice on the Islamophobic right, and the notorious Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who has stated that he “hates Islam.”
The slide show below features pictures from both actions.
This report originally appeared in the Indypendent.
Anyone who believes that America must remain a country where people of all faiths are equal, must read Michael Moore’s blog “If the ‘Mosque’ Isn’t Built, This Is No Longer America” at http://www.michaelmoore.com
Rauf said the debate over the location of the mosque “has been, to a certain extent, hijacked by the radicals. The radicals on both sides.”
This is clearly the case when you see the lineup of speakers that are listed here.
I love it how anti-war equates to “extremist” to right wingers. As if not dropping bombs on people was an “extreme” position to take.
What do you expect Chaos, when a nutcase like Joe Lieberman is considered a moderate. As Glenn Greenwald has documented, pro war is considered moderate in the Beltway, which is clearly at odds with the public as no presidential campaign has ever been run on the promise of taking the country to war.
‘pro war is considered moderate in the Beltway’.. i agree shingo.. money=war seems to continue to hold sway in the halls of political and financial power… when will the ordinary people ever find a way to stop the constant murder these wars are really all about? all of them are coming out of a place of fear- definitely not love…the usa is a ‘godless’ society.. politicians like bush or obama either openly or indirectly support these wars while going to church on sunday… what a load of b.s. the only way the 2 go together is if someone needs to maintain an image, when in their heart they know their actions say otherwise…
I see WJ, and what is you’re criteria for radicals? I am sure you have full-proof way of ascertaining this (who is radical and who is not) that will satisfy all here (or get rid of any viable positions in the process).
I myself would not have chosen the word radical to describe the lineup of speakers. I used the term because Rauf used that term. I would say that the lineup of speakers was such that one would have to hate Israel to feel comfortable at the rally. To equate support for the right of freedom of religion in this case, with the hatred of Israel evinced by Mckinney, Sheehan and Ramsey Clark is silly and possibly stupid if one is interested in building coalitions (a thought quite foreign to this web site).
Funny that you talk about building coalitions, Mr. “Right Wing Get Those Arabs Out of My Jerusalem.”
Quote one quote from me that backs this up, Mr. Liar.
Forget it. This article isn’t about you and I’m not about to have you pull a Witty on us. You never link any sort of source in your posts, at all.
I see. “Radical” = “telling the truth about Israel.”
And just who is it waving those Israeli flags while protesting the mosque? Who is it that injected Israel into the discussion?
Still enjoying those tax breaks and government subsidies you received when you got your Israeli citizenship — just for being a Jew?
And you’re supposed to be a voice of reason? Pfffff…..I’d rather buy a car from a crooked used car salesman than have to listen to you pontificate on the character of others.
Avi,
you want to tell us about your incentives for leaving Israel and moving to Canada? Why did you leave Israel? Your hatred and rage seems a little suspect.
So now outright slander and bullying is OK by the comment moderation policy? I guess if we excluded that, we’d be accused of bias since no Zionist has ever posted here without seeding their claims with outrageous accusations and outright lies.
Are you pretending to be thick?
1. No country on the face of the planet has ever granted me automatic citizenship by virtue of my religion, ethnicity, race, or skin color. I went through legal and laborious processes, which took years upon years, before I was able to obtain citizenship. Those who make aliya, face none of that.
2. With the exception of Jews who make aliya to Israel and receive government incentives, tax exemptions, subsidies for home appliances, for cars, and for education, every other immigrant to any country on the planet usually starts from scratch and builds himself/herself through hard work and determination.
I certainly did not receive cash in hand when I landed at the airport. Those who make aliya to Israel DO receive cash in hand at the airport. I believe it’s $2500 USD or thereabouts. Just ask Lost Jew. He knows.
Do go peddle propaganda to someone else.
Avi, please explain to me why I am not allowed to comment without the circumstances of my life being brought up by you.
I find it amusing that you think the Jewish exceptionalism you enjoy, WJ, includes a moratorium on anyone discussing the Jewish exceptionalism you enjoy.
I think your defensiveness and Schwartzman’s absurd mudslinging rather prove Avi’s point about the dishonest and corrupt nature of Zionism.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
By the way, that figure I quoted earlier was not accurate. Individuals receive $4,000 upon arrival, while families receive $14,000 or more.
link to mondoweiss.net
(Ibid)
WJ,
you have to grow up someday. In the least,
do it for your cause.
Yup, former Attorney General, Congresswomen, Mother of dead soldier. Dutch gadfly anti-Islamist will travel, mentally disturbed ultra-zio “objectivist” web mistress, assorted haters and trouser-stains yeah theyre about equal.