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 Friday, August 6, 2010, the Dallas, Texas based Christian group “Operation Save America (OSA)” held a protest outside of the Masjid An-Noor mosque in Bridgeport, Connecticut carrying signs that state “Islam is a lie.”

According to the Connecticut Post, Christian group “Operation Save America” (OSA) leader pastor Flip Benham called for taking a “war” to American mosques, stating “This is a war in America and we are taking it to the mosques around the country.”  The Connecticut Post stated that “Flip Benham, of Dallas, Texas, organizer of the protest, was yelling at the worshipers with a bullhorn.” AP reported that the protesters were”yelling what mosque members described as hate-filled slogans.”  NBC Connecticut reported that “Muslim leaders in Connecticut are asking police to ensure that they can worship without being harassed after a group was confronted on Friday.”

On July 23, 2010, the same OSA group led a protest against a Charlotte, North Carolina mosque as Muslims were going to Friday prayers to pass out tracts and broadcast over their sound system that “Islam is a lie.”  The OSA Christian group promoted the Charlotte mosque protest on their web site as “The Slaying of Allah – We Came to Slay Your False God.”

The OSA group is also promoting the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) planned September 11, 2010 protest in New York City against the Park Place Islamic center. (See OSA video.)  The OSA’s Flip Benham is urging “thousands” of Christians to protest the NYC Islamic Center in September.

The OSA group has a long history of seeking to disrupt the worship services of Muslims and other religions. In September 2009, the OSA group sought to join efforts coordinated by the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group to disrupt a public Muslim prayer on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, where the OSA had placards reading “Islam is a lie.” The OSA called its September 2009 efforts to protest public Muslim prayer as “storming the gates of Hell in Washington DC.”

The OSA Regional Director of Charlotte, North Carolina, Ante Pavkovic, has also been previously arrested for seeking to disrupt a Hindu prayer in the Senate building in Washington DC. Ante Pavkovic’s efforts were applauded by the OSA leadership, as a Hindu religious leader was left dumbfounded by the angry outbursts against him.

Religious extremist hate knows no boundaries or limitations to disrespect, contempt, and intolerance against others. Christians that support religious pluralism and religious freedom should speak up about the Christian extremist actions of the “Operation Save America” group in seeking to disrupt and deny religious freedom and religious worship to others.

=======================================

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

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