Competing Mosque Rallies Take Place
The New York Daily News reports on competing rallies which took place in New York, both for and against the Cordoba House:
Mosque hysteria reached fevered pitch Sunday as angry protesters opposed to building an Islamic center near Ground Zero squared off with supporters of the project.
In mostly peaceful counter-demonstrations, hundreds braved the rain in Lower Manhattan to voice their position on the contentious project that has spiralled into a national political issue.
"It's very insensitive to the families," said retired firefighter Tim Brown who escaped the collapse of the Twin Towers. "This is not about religious freedom."
"All we are saying is don't build this mosque here at Ground Zero on our cemetery."
Supporters of the proposed mosque two blocks from the Trade Center site said blocking it would be a victory for terrorism.
"These people against it need to open their eyes and see how much hate this is bringing," said 28-year-old tour guide Victor Hernandez. "The terrorists win when we don't allow people their freedoms."
The day began with hundreds of anti-mosque protesters roaring into Lower Manhattan on motorcycles. Within hours both sides had gathered en masse.
The two groups were kept apart in penned-in protest sites two blocks way from each other - about 200 gathered in support of the project and 1,000 against.
