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 the coast-to-coast protests and attacks on mosques around America.

On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, at 6:30 PM in Stamford, Connecticut, an interfaith group of diverse religions plans to hold a prayer vigil in support of Muslim communities, in the wake of Christian group protests at Connecticut mosques.

On August 6, 2010 and August 13, 2010, the Texas-based Operation Save America (OSA) Christian group held protests in front of a Bridgeport, Connecticut mosque, stating that “Islam is a lie,” and that the group sought to protest Muslim mosques throughout the month of Ramadan.  The OSA Christian group leader told the Connecticut Post “This is a war in America and we are taking it to the mosques around the country.”

The Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut seeks to counter this message by providing an interfaith message of inclusion and harmony.

The Connecticut Post reported that “‘A lot of the public Muslim-bashing rhetoric has been getting to me,’ said Kate Heichler, president of the InterFaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut. ‘It’s time to do something.'”  The Connecticut Post also reported “Joshua Hammerman, a rabbi at Temple Beth El in Stamford, said he plans to participate. ‘I think it’s really important that the Jewish community be represented because it’s in our interest here, in Israel and worldwide to reach out to our Islamic brothers and sisters across the divide,’ Hammerman said. ‘We have much to share, much in common among our faiths.'”

At its website, the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut states:
“Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 6:30 p.m.  Interfaith Prayer Vigil in support of Muslim communities in Fairfield County, on the grounds of First Congregational Church, 1 Walton Place, Bedford Street, Stamford.  All are welcome to gather peacefully with members of our Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh communities – and people of other religions who choose to join in – to lift voices in prayer for peace, respect and collaborative ministry in the Stamford area and Southwestern Connecticut. For more information contact Kate Heichler (kateheichler@gmail.com) or Mark Lingle (marklingle.pastor@gmail.com).”

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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.

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, — 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.