An After-Action Report (With Photos):
On the eve of 911, Sunday's United American Committee event featuring a hanging of Osama bin Laden in effigy in front of the radical Saudi King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, CA was an overwhelming success. Law enforcement estimated the crowd to be approximately 500 including 200 counter-protesters. Anticipation of Osama's hanging began to build as the event started at 4:00 PM with the gallows and Osama's effigy nowhere in sight. As the crowd grew and the media watched, at 4:30 PM a truck being driven by UAC Board Member Ted Hayes slowly pulled out of an alleyway across from the mosque carrying gallows towering high above the crowd which immediately erupted into roaring cheers. The crowd poured into the streets waiting in anticipation for the hanging. Board Member Ted Hayes, Chairman Jesse Petrilla, and Member Peter James climbed onto the back of the truck. The verdict was read, “GUILTY!” Peter James wearing a black bathrobe and a black mask & hood to resemble an executioner tightened the noose around Osama's neck. “Hang Him High! Hang Him High!” the crowd chanted. The rope was pulled and Osama was hoisted into the air. The crowd cheered as they pelted him with shoes. Shoes being the great insult in the Islamic world. Counter-protesters who seemed to take the side of Osama stood on the other side of the street chanting slogans such as “U.A.C. Racist Slime, Being Muslim is Not A Crime.” to which the UAC responded with chants such as “We Love Muslims, We Love Muslims.” and “Join with us, Join with us.” sending a positive message that Muslims are more than welcome to come and join the UAC in throwing shoes at Osama and condemning Islamic militancy. The UAC was happy to be joined by pro-democratic Iranians, as well as many other groups and individuals of all different backgrounds, however, as for the King Fahd Mosque and its members the allegiance of those who would protest a hanging of bin Laden remains in question.
Associated Press wrote a great article recaping the event [click here to view].
AP also has several pictures of the event on the wire [click here for AP pics].
 Osama looks worriedly up at his noose at a UAC pre-rally staging area. |
 The executioner pulls the rope to hang bin Laden in effigy before the crowd. |
 The crowd cheers as they pelt bin Laden with shoes. |
 A man uses a shoe to beat an Osama bin Laden effigy that has just been hung, an event organized by the United American Committee, across the street from the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles. Protesters against the hanging can be seen in the background. Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Ann Johansson) |
 Ted Hayes, with the United American Committee , holds the rope to a noose that holds an Osama bin Laden effigy, across the street from the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Ann Johansson) |
 UAC members & supporters join the UAC's rally in commemoration of 911 featuring a hanging of bin Laden in effigy. |
 Osama hangs from the gallows. |
Anyone with more pictures or video of this event please send them to info@unitedamericancommittee.org