NYC: Group Linked to Violence to Join 9/11 Protest Against Islamic Center
 

September 6, 2010

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people.  R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred towards identity groups and specific religions.

On September 11, 2010, the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group leading a protest against the planned Park Place Islamic Center has invited members of a British anti-Islam group to join the 9/11 protest rally in New York City.

The British anti-Islam group, the English Defence League, has been involved in violent protests across the United Kingdom against mosques in that country.

The English Defence League (EDL) group has been repeatedly associated with violence against police, chanting vulgar and hateful remarks, and terrorizing the elderly with their violent protests. The EDL was once again involved in a violent protest on August 28, two weeks before they came to the 9/11 NYC protest. 

In April 2010, the Daily Mail reported on the EDL violently breaking through police barriers, resulting in the panic attack of an elderly woman who had been shopping in the area.   2,000 members of the EDL were involved in a violent protest in Dudley, UK against the plans to build a mosque there, and during the protest the Daily Mail reported on EDL clashes with riot police.

UK Group EDL Invited to 9/11 NYC Protests Break Through Police Barriers in Mosque Protest
(Photo: PA Wire/David Jones)

The Daily Mail reported that "The EDL protesters managed to break out of the car park by pulling down fences and barging their way past riot police officers. About half the group then ran off through the town. Lines of riot police officers fought running battles with protesters as they tried to contain the mob who pulled down barriers blocking off roads. Nick Mainwood, 42, from Oldbury, West Midlands, said he tried to help an elderly woman who suffered a panic attack during the protest."

In July 2010, the Birmingham Mail reported on EDL supporters "throwing bricks and metal security fences at riot police."  



UK Group EDL Invited to 9/11 NYC Protests Defy Riot Police in Dudley Mosque Protest

The Birmingham Mail reported that "Around 500 EDL supporters gathered on Stafford Street waving England flags and shouting anti-Islamist chants. Violence flared as police attempted to get the protesters back on to buses at the end of the demonstration as they threw bricks and metal security fences at riot police. Several shops and cars in the town were damaged and police said they would trawl through hours of CCTV footage to find the offenders."  "A witness told the Birmingham Mail the car had been surrounded by EDL supporters and the driver hit the accelerator to escape."

In July 2010, the UK Sun reported on EDL members that had been arrested and questioned on plot against a mosque, but were then released due to insufficient evidence.  The Sun reported that "Armed police opened fire on a van as they swooped on a far-right group suspected of plotting to blow up a mosque. Cops used special tyre deflation rounds to disable a Ford Escort van driven by English Defence League official John Broomfield. Officers smashed a window and hauled the suspect out while he was stuck in traffic near the picturesque tourist spot of Corfe Castle, Dorset. Police then raided Mr Broomfield's home in nearby Swanage and seized computer equipment, mobile phones and passports. Five more English Defence League members and another person were also arrested in simultaneous raids at several addresses. The suspects were questioned about an alleged conspiracy to bomb a mosque in Bournemouth. All were later released without charge."

On August 28, 2010, AFP reported on yet another EDL anti-Islam protest in Bradford, UK, where "Members of the English Defence League (EDL) threw bottles, stones and smoke bombs during violent scenes as police struggled to keep the two sides apart."

UK Group EDL Invited to 9/11 NYC Protests Involved in Violent Protests in Bradford, UK in August

The UK Guardian has had investigative reports on the EDL, with a video showing violent, hate-filled, and vulgar EDL members making threats against others (WARNING video of EDL protesters contains numerous vulgarities by EDL supporters).  The Guardian reported on "English Defence League: Inside the violent world of Britain's new far right."

UK Group EDL Invited to 9/11 NYC Protests Aggressively Defy Riot Police in United Kingdom

Expurgated (to delete vulgarities) screen shot of video of UK group
Invited to 9/11 NYC Protests Against Park Place Islamic Center

This is the same EDL group being invited by the NYC protest leaders in the planned 9/11 protest against the Park Place Islamic Center in New York City on Saturday, September 11.

A recent British blog shows other EDL members with swastika tattoos and making Heil Hitler salutes, and a YouTube video shows EDL members with weapons.

Photos of EDL Members with Swastikas, Making Heil Hitler Salutes

Despite knowledge of the EDL's history of involvement in violent protests, the SIOA group has had no concerns about inviting them to the 9/11 NYC protest against the Park Place Islamic Center, and has defended that decision.

Screen Shot of SIOA Executive Director Defending EDL Role in 9/11 NYC Protest

Not only has the SIOA invited the EDL group to join the 9/11 protests against the Park Place Islamic Center, the SIOA's leader has previously sought to recruit members for the EDL and another SIOA supporter claims of plans to create an organization like the EDL in the United States.

The Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group was based on a UK and Europe-based Stop Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) group, whose slogan is "Islamophobia is the height of common sense." The SIOE also has a long history of anti-Islamic protests in the United Kingdom and Europe, including protests outside of Islamic mosque.  The SIOE is also planning protests at U.S. centers on 9/11 throughout Europe.

The European group has also previously attended and its leaders spoke at the June 6, 2010 protest against the Park Place Islamic Center in New York City.

Islamophobia United: Stop Islamization of Europe (SIOE) - right and Stop Islamization of America - left - Unite in Protest against Park Place Mosque in NYC (Photo: YouTube)


A few weeks prior to that, the SIOE had led a protest against a Danish mosque, which attracted the interest and support of a local Neo-Nazi party.

The SIOE originally started assisting those interested in creating the SIOA in September 2009, and the SIOA's first target was to disrupt a public prayer session of Muslims in Washington DC. However, when that effort failed, and the European leaders of the SIOE group were concerned that the America group "SIOA has not developed in the direction we wanted."

By April 2010, the SIOE European leaders sought to get new leaders for the America-based group Stop Islamization of America. The SIOE recruited the current leaders of the American group, Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, to carry on the goals of the anti-Islam, anti-mosque group, and the SIOE leaders built their Facebook site to recruit members to the American group.

Screen shot of SIOE Blog on April 2, 2010

The American groups' Facebook site has been used by many to spread rabid anti-Islam hatred, vulgar and obscene images, and by some SIOA supporters who have called for disgracing the Qur'an using human waste. Due to the extreme vulgarity and obscenity of the images, they will not be posted here.  Those who seek evidence on this can email us for further information.

The SIOA leaders defend comments and images on their Facebook site as defending freedom of expression.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people -- without exception. We reject protests against houses of worship, and we reject violence and attacks on houses of worship.

On September 11, 2001 - nine years ago, America was attacked by those who killed Americans of every identity group and every religion - and who sought to divide and terrorize the United States of America.  New York City and Washington DC were attacked, but also one plane, Flight 93 that was hijacked to attack the White House or the Capitol building - was stopped - by Americans that refused to give in to fear and terror. Today, there are those who once again seek to spread fear and divide Americans on September 11. 

In Florida, one group seeks to burn Qur'ans on September 11, 2010.  We have seen from coast-to-coast, from California to Florida, a series of protests against those who seek to freely worship in Islamic mosques, in California, in Tennessee, in Wisconsin, in North Carolina, in Kentucky, in Florida, in Connecticut, and throughout New York. 

In Florida, we have seen a pipe bomb attack on a mosque, in Texas a children's playground in a mosque was burned down, while children are harassed, in Tennessee mosque properties have been vandalized and people have been convicted of arson attacks on mosques.  On our national airwaves and media, we see and hear those who call for bomb attacks on mosques, and those who seek to spread open intolerance and hatred.

Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths, including the freedom of religion supported under Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

We are deeply concerned about the escalation of intolerance and hate that we seeing growing around the world, including in America today. We will be inviting the public to join us in a freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience event on September 11 at 2 PM in Freedom Plaza in Washington DC to give Americans an opportunity to publicly show their support for such freedoms.

There is more information at 911Freedom.com -- see also Facebook Event: Public Rally for Freedom of Religion, Worship, Conscience.

We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.