ISNA Urges Calm Before Rallies
“These hate groups will be exercising their Constitutional rights to engage in hateful speech and carry weapons with bullets,” Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) said in a statement.
“ISNA wants the Muslim community and other people of good conscience to also exercise their Constitutional rights. But rather than hateful speech and bullets, we will engage with positive speech and the ballot box.”
ISNA was referring to the anti-Muslim “Global Rally for Humanity”, which is scheduled for October 9th and 10th in more than twenty cities across the US.
The armed protests and rallies will target mosques, high-traffic Muslim communities and government buildings.
The slogan for the group and their series of rallies is "The World is Saying No to Islam," and a flyer widely circulated by the group mentions the "3%ers and Oathkeepers."
Responding to the calls of hate groups, ISNA urged Muslims to engage with their wider society, building coalitions and relationships.
“Hold Voter Registration drives at your Islamic Centers as a response to the rallies, invite interfaith and community allies to join the voter drive and contact your elected officials and demand that they defend American pluralism and condemn these hateful protests,” the guideline read.
American Muslims are also asked to use the hashtag, #HateUnchecked, on Friday at 3pm to raise awareness about religious freedom in the nation.
“Ask Muslim thought leaders to make short videos and write articles echoing this call to action. Ask your interfaith partners to make the same call to action,” ISNA urged Muslims.
Besides targeting mosque, the rallies would counter rallies by Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam in Washington, also scheduled for this weekend.
Meanwhile, ISNA contacted numerous federal agencies to address the issue.
The group has also published a list of the 22 targeted mosques around the country.
The list includes Dar Al-Taqwa Islamic Center, Masjid Muhammad, Islamic Center of Charleston, Islamic Center of North East Florida, Al-Farooq Masjid, Abul Qasim Masjid and the Islamic Center of Hernando County.
It also mentioned Islamic Academy of Huntsville, Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, Louisville Islamic Center, Islamic Center of Northern Kentucky, Islamic Center of America, Muslim Center of Racine, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City and Mansfield Islamic Center.
Khursheed Unissa Memorial Community Center, Grand Junction Islamic Center, Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, Medford Police Department, Islamic Center of Kitsap County, Lakeside Park Garden Center and ISNA Headquarters were also on the list.
On its part, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged mosques across America to take additional safety measures prior to anti-Islam rallies.
"Despite all of these attempts to unnerve the Muslim community and make them fearful and afraid, it never ends up amounting to anything except we become closer," Alia Salem with CAIR DFW said.
Source: OnIsam.net
