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, July 23, 2010, the Dallas, Texas based Christian group “Operation Save America” held a protest outside the Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte (ISGC) mosque in Charlotte, North Carolina, holding signs reading “Islam is a lie.”

According to the OSA web site, the group stated that “We showed up just before their ‘prayer time’ and set up our sound system, signs, and tracts.”  The brochures and signs were to promote the message 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.”

Regarding the July 23, 2010 Charlotte, North Carolina mosque protest, the OSA Christian group claimed that they received public support, stating “Out of all the places that we went to in Charlotte, OSA garnered more support from the surrounding neighborhoods at this location than any other place. We passed out tons of tracts and witnessed to many of the neighbors. Every single one of them expressed gratitude for our bold witness at this mosque. We found out that the Muslim are knocking down some of their homes and driving them out of the neighborhood. They are deeply concerned about the inroads Muslims are making in their community.”

The Charlotte Observer reported that in earlier protests, the Charlotte community was annoyed by OSA’s protests impacting traffic flow.

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 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.