Anti-Muslim sentiments strong in parts of U.S.

In the late fifities, early sixties, there was a half hour, black and white television series about the comic book hero Superman starring George Reeves. The opening credits of the show always ended with the line, "Superman! Fighting for truth, justice and the Amercian way." It seems that not everybody got the message.

Videos have recently surfaced on YouTube and have made their way into the papers of a Muslim fundraising event in California. Outside of the event, protesters showed up and these protesters also included elected officials. The protest was sponsored by the local Tea Party, ACT! for America, Pamela Geller and others.

Al Jazeera – Mar 5/2011

US anti-Muslim rally raises fears

The US based advocacy group, the Council on American Islamic Relations, has published a video of an anti-Muslim protest, at a fundraising event in California last month. Muslim residents say the demonstration has raised fears in their community.

Hate Comes to Orange County

Hate comes to Orange County

(ANAHEIM, CA, 3/2/11) — The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today released a video of a rally organized by anti-Muslim bigots to protest a February fundraising event held by an American Muslim relief group for relief work and charity in the U.S.

A few hundred protesters showed up to the rally, which was sponsored by groups such as: "We Surround Them OC 912" (a local Tea Party group), Rabbi David Eliezrie of Chabad – Yorba Linda, North Orange County Conservative Coalition, ACT! for America, and Pamela Geller (whose group "Stop the Islamization of America" has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center).

Elected officials Congressmen Ed Royce and Gary Miller, and Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly also attended and spoke at the protest rally.

The event — held at Yorba Linda Community Center, a facility that has been frequented by Muslim families and businesses over the years — first became a target of anti-Muslim bigots over two of the fundraiser’s speakers, who were to speak on the importance of charity in Islam. Initial attempts of some groups to have the Yorba Linda Community Center and the Yorba Linda City Council cancel the fundraising event failed, followed by the protest.

In a statement, CAIR-LA said:

"We support the First Amendment right of protest\eors anywhere in America to voice their concerns, dissent, and even hatred. However, when our nation’s foundational values of inclusiveness, pluralism and equality are attacked by some in favor of calls for advocating hate and violence, then all Americans have a responsibility to challenge and expose such bigotry and those who enable it.

"As the video shows, the rhetoric of the protesters became increasingly venomous toward the families and children who came to attend the ICNA Relief fundraising dinner. Protesters shouted invective statements such as "Go home terrorist," "Muhammad is a pervert, Muhammad is a child molester," "Go home and beat your wife, she needs a good beating" at the event-goers.

"Even more disturbing was the participation and encouragement of elected officials in promoting the hateful protest rally. Villa Park Councilwoman, Deborah Pauly, while addressing the crowd at the rally, appeared to threaten Muslim event-goers. Congressman Ed Royce (R-40), in a troubling trend of disparaging Islam and its followers, added fuel to the fire by encouraging protesters to continue on with their hate-mongering. The attendance of Congressman Gary Miller (R-42) was a clear surprise, since he previously has engaged with all constituents, including Muslims, toward a better America.

"We strongly urge all elected officials in attendance to distance themselves from such an exhibition of hate and bigotry. We further ask residents and elected officials of Yorba Linda, Orange County and other parts of our nation to speak out against such hateful rhetoric and the continued Islamophobia that plagues our nation."

Council on American Islamic Relations-Los Angeles (CAIR-LA), Phone: 714-776-1847, Email: info@losangeles.cair.com

References

The Huffington Post – Mar 4/2011

Rally Exposes Depths of Anti-Muslim Hate by Zaki Hasan

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zaki-hasan/rally-exposes-depths-of-a_b_831353.html

Salon – Mar 4/2011

Mom: Anti-Muslim mob "terrified" my kids by Justin Elliot

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/03/04/orange_county_protest_reaction/index.html

Click HERE to read more from William Belle

Article viewed at: Oye! Times at www.oyetimes.com