WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Friday, activists protesting recent extreme Islamist terror attacks in the United States and the massacre at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris, plan to hold a rally outside the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, Arizona.
“After the attempted massacre in Garland, [Texas] the massacre at Charlie Hebdo, it’s important for people to stand up for freedom of speech even if it offends someone.”
The rally was scheduled to start at 6:15 pm (11:15 p.m. GMT), the time for Muslim prayer, and to include a Muhammad cartoon contest, whose winner was to be announced in front of the Center, according to the event’s Facebook page.
No protestors yet, just a handful of people with the Love Rally #PHxMosque #fox10phoenix pic.twitter.com/GZdOBMkoMu
— Nicole Garcia Fox10 (@Fox10_NicoleG) May 29, 2015
A critic of Islam, however, distanced himself from the rally unsure if it sought to provoke angry reactions from the Phoenix Muslim community.
ISIS? Nope. Armed American bikers protesting at #PHxMosque today. Is this your America? #NotMyAmerica #TakeOnHate pic.twitter.com/AjXg2xstkq
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) May 29, 2015
Glen Roberts, editor of the advocacy publication TheReligionofPeace.com, told Sputnik on Friday that if the protestors sought to provoke the Phoenix Muslim community, he will not be able to support the rally.
Workers putting up barricades on Orangewood at I-17 frontage road before planned #PHxMosque rally pic.twitter.com/fx3v3hYjmo
— 3TV News Desk (@3tvnewsdesk) May 29, 2015
“I do not see anything positive from disrupting worship by shouting abuse — if this is anyone’s purpose,” Roberts concluded.
Washington Park activities center closed early due to anti-Islam rally #PHxMosque pic.twitter.com/E7sOJ4I30p
— Antonia Mejia (@AntoniaMejiaTAZ) May 29, 2015
The David Horowitz Freedom Center defends the moral, cultural and economic values of US society, according to the organization’s website.
TheReligionofPeace.com is a US advocacy website critical of Islam. The web site claims that it presents Islam’s true teachings as found in the faith’s original texts.
