WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Shami was commenting on a planned protest to be held in front of the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, in response to the recent attempted terror attack in Texas by two alleged Islamic State-affiliated individuals.
“They [protesters] are the farthest from people who want to maintain freedom of speech,” Shami said on Friday. “They want to divide the community, and have Christian neighbor against Muslim neighbor.”
Get Ready! Armed Biker Gang Set To #DrawMuhammad At Phoenix Mosque Tomorrow http://t.co/lS0g4FDWln pic.twitter.com/17zXNihOA4
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) May 29, 2015
The rally was planned to include several events, including a Muhammad cartoon contest whose winner will be announced there, according to a Facebook posting advertising the event.
Islamists Promise ‘Kuffar Blood’ Will Spill at Phoenix ‘Draw Muhammad’ Contest: And from that sa… http://t.co/mJKojIqIc3 #CharlieHebdo
— Charlie Hebdo (@_charliehebdo) May 29, 2015
The Facebook statement also said the rally would start at 6:15 pm local time (11:15 p.m. GMT), which is the regular time of Muslim prayer.
Phoenix police are on high alert due to a “Draw Muhammad” contest set to take place. Details now on #KellyFile.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) May 29, 2015
US Marine Corps veteran Jon Ritzheimer encouraged participants to “utilize their Second Amendment right” — the right to carry firearms — at the event in case their first amendment rights to free speech are violated, he said on the Facebook event page.
Posted by Jon Ritzheimer on Sunday, 10 May 2015
Shami said the protesters were racists that spur hate speech.
“They care less about the [US] Constitution, and if they care about the United States, they should think positive of it.”
The Muslim community leader said the protestors had shown that they “hate the President of the United States, and they say they hate the federal government.”
Shami also noted that the protestors kept changing their message at different events. They were trying to “throw mud on the wall to see what sticks,” he said.
The Islamic Community Center of Phoenix seeks to help the city’s Muslim community carry out social cultural, religious and educational activities in accordance with Islam, according to the Center’s website.
