NEW YORK—After the official Sept. 11 commemoration ceremony is over Saturday morning, thousands of people representing over 100 groups are planning rallies with their own messages.
The two rallies happening one block away from each other at Ground Zero will present completely opposite points of view, and will center on whether or not American citizens should have the right to build an Islamic Community Center and mosque known as Park51 anywhere near ground zero.
The Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI) and Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), both of which are billed as human rights organizations, will be hosting a “pro-freedom Rally of Remembrance” protesting the mosque. The confirmed list of speakers includes 9/11 family members and anti-Islamic Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders. Former U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and journalist Andrew Breitbart will also speak via video messages.
Pamela Geller, executive director of SIOA, says on her website a large number of family members have contacted her and asked that she speak on their behalf on Sept. 11 to oppose the mosque.
“As long as the voices of hate and racism are taking this day of 9/11 we must respond,” said Sarah Flounders, coordinator of the IAC event.
“They seized it, and we thought it was important, in all due respect to 9/11, to make this a day that would call for unity and respect,” she added.
On Wednesday, the coalition, represented by the umbrella International Action Center (IAC), held a press conference to raise awareness of their position prior to Saturday.
The two rallies happening one block away from each other at Ground Zero will present completely opposite points of view, and will center on whether or not American citizens should have the right to build an Islamic Community Center and mosque known as Park51 anywhere near ground zero.
The Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI) and Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), both of which are billed as human rights organizations, will be hosting a “pro-freedom Rally of Remembrance” protesting the mosque. The confirmed list of speakers includes 9/11 family members and anti-Islamic Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders. Former U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and journalist Andrew Breitbart will also speak via video messages.
Pamela Geller, executive director of SIOA, says on her website a large number of family members have contacted her and asked that she speak on their behalf on Sept. 11 to oppose the mosque.
“I would have canceled the rally, but due to the large number of family members who have contacted me and asked us to help them speak out for their loved ones, and give them a voice to express their opinions, in all conscience I cannot postpone the rally,” said Geller, a prolific blogger.
In what they say is a response to the SIOA rally, the International Action Center (IAC), a grass-roots coalition of nearly 100 peace, justice, labor, community, and immigrant groups have organized their own rally and march.“As long as the voices of hate and racism are taking this day of 9/11 we must respond,” said Sarah Flounders, coordinator of the IAC event.
“They seized it, and we thought it was important, in all due respect to 9/11, to make this a day that would call for unity and respect,” she added.
On Wednesday, the coalition, represented by the umbrella International Action Center (IAC), held a press conference to raise awareness of their position prior to Saturday.
