Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights, including freedom of worship for all people, and we object to protests against houses of worship. However, some groups seek to protest against houses of worship.
New York City groups, under the collective banner “Oppose Ground Zero Mosque,” are planning another mosque protest and leaflet distribution on Friday, June 25, one and a half blocks away from the 45 Park Place mosque. On the web site, one commentator states “There should not be ANY mosque in USA!”
NYC Mosque Being Protested (Photo: NY Times)
The June 25 protest against the 45 Park Place mosque, which has been in operation since December 2009, is scheduled for 12:45 PM, at 51 Park Place between Church Avenue and West Broadway. The groups stated that “this activity is sponsored by Act for Manhattan, Hindu Human Rights Watch, HRCARI and other Organizations.”
June 6 Mosque Protest – Image (Photo: YouTube)
The June 25 protest groups state that they seek to provide fliers to “Muslims going into the Mosque about their Imam. This can make for interesting exchanges – a kind of ‘street theater’ – especially considering that the whole thing will be filmed as part of a documentary by the Christian Action Network.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has reported on the Christian Action Network’s anti-homosexual activism. In March 2010, the leaders of the SIOA organization that held the June 6, 2010 protest against the 45 Park Place mosque protest, withdrew from plans to hold a May 1 film event in Los Angeles due to what they stated were “the abusive, ugly rhetoric found in various pieces of CAN literature.”
The June 25 protest group states “[t]here will be a documentary being produced by Christian Action Network with interviews from those who will be doing leaf letting”… to show the strength of those who oppose this Mosque..”
June 6 Mosque Protest Image (Photo: YouTube)
On June 3, 2010, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stated its opposition to such protests against houses of worship, in our posting “New York City Mosque Protest, Islam, and Religious Freedom.” R.E.A.L. also remains concerned about the unwillingness of the New York Post to take action on the continuing reader comments on its web site calling for terrorist bombings against the 45 Park Place mosque. We believe it is wrong to seek to intimidate others who seek to practice their freedom of religion, and we reject intolerance, hate, and violence.
R.E.A.L. supports our universal human rights for all people of all faiths, including Muslims attending the 45 Park Place mosque.
R.E.A.L.’s support of our universal human rights includes Article 18: “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.”
Our universal human rights come with no caveats. They do not just apply to one race, one religion, one ethnicity, one gender. They do not just apply to those we agree with, those we like, or those whose faith or religious views we share.
With such human rights and freedom of religion threatened in many parts of the world today, it is essential that we are consistent in our support for such human rights. It is essential that we are consistently responsible for equality and liberty — for all.
Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.
