NY anti-Islamic law rally, counter-protest face off angrily

“It’s very sad that it’s happening”, Abbas said. “They will not win, they will not divide this country and they will be total failures on Saturday, because we will be united against that hatred”. I didn’t really know much about radical Muslims, jihad. “I can’t believe it”.

Ellison, deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), said the protest participants are the kind of people who do not want to purchase products or services from members of the LGBT community based on their religion. They said they would come to Seattle instead.

Tension grew throughout the afternoon as hundreds of people clashed outside the State Capitol Saturday during the planned “March against Sharia” rally and a protest meant to counter it. “We’re actually helping to fight for Muslim women, who are disproportionately affected the most by these practices”. They asked Seattle Center about having it there, but the Seattle Center campus is already hosting several other permitted events this weekend, according to spokesperson Deborah Daoust.

“We are an anti public Sharia movement”, said Lauren Morris the march organizer for the Austin Chapter of ACT for America.

But it was noisy, with groups chanting, yelling and waving American flags and posters proclaiming various issues. “This is here in our country and people need to wake up”. Moreover, the marches are being mounted and organized by ACT for America, which is a conservative organization that identifies itself “the NRA of national security.” .

Hussein announced two events for supporters to go to stand with the Muslim community.

“This is a march against Sharia law and for human rights”.

Some members of the Muslim community are anxious for their safety, Abbas said. “It’s important for local leaders to express solidarity and make clear we stand against bigotry, against racism and with our Muslim neighbors in the state and beyond”. Their worries are exacerbated by fears that numerous protesters will be armed. “When an organization propagandizes an entire community, it tends to embolden some people to commit hate crimes”. “We want to remind our community members that hate groups like Act for America and rhetoric have real serious consequences”.

An addition 81 bills or amendments targeting Muslims were introduced during the same time period. But the country needs to have “a hard conversation”, she said.

Originally the counter rally was scheduled to be held near the ACT rally in downtown Syracuse.

Oath Keepers said on its website that it was “answering the call to defend free speech against those who would use terrorist violence or the threat of violence to shut it down”. “These are things that all women should support”, he said. She has also referred to Arabs as “barbarians” and claimed they have “no soul”. “We have to be careful with who we let in the country”, according to Reuters.

Abbas said the mutilations are a rare practice.

The events have drawn criticism both locally and nationally, with local officials, organizations and members of Congress decrying the planned events as anti-Muslim.

“The Constitution is the law of the land”, he said.

She said she has noticed increased hostility to Muslims, evidenced by the destruction of a granite sign in front of the mosque she attends in Everett, Washington, by someone apparently wielding a sledgehammer.

“Who is trying to implement it?”