Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

In New York, protesters take to the streets to say 'I Am Muslim Too'
Rediff ^ | Monday, February 20, 2017 | Yoshita Singh, PTI

Posted on 02/20/2017 1:03:00 PM PST by Jyotishi

Rediff News  All News 

Rediff.com  » News » In New York, protesters take to the streets to say 'I Am Muslim Too'

In New York, protesters take to the streets to say 'I Am Muslim Too'

February 20, 2017 13:05 IST

'We will fight hatred with love, we will fight bigotry with inclusivity. And today I am a Muslim too.'

New Yorkers by the thousand, representing myriad backgrounds and faiths, converged on Times Square, to let Muslims know their fellow Americans stood by them.

IMAGE: People take part in an "I am Muslim Too" rally in Times Square Manhattan, New York. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Over a thousand people from various faiths declared ‘I am a Muslim too’ as they assembled at the iconic Times Square in New York to express solidarity with the Muslim community and protest against US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

The rally was co-organised by the Foundation For Ethnic Understanding and the Nusantara Foundation in response to the uncertainty and anxiety created by Trump’s now-rescinded executive order to bar citizens from the seven Muslim-majority nations.

The ‘I am a Muslim Too’ solidarity rally drew several thousand people who raised slogans and held banners of ‘Love Trumps Hate’ and ‘USA, USA’ and ‘No Muslim Ban’.

Headlined by American entrepreneur and author Russell Simmons and actress Susan Sarandon, the rally on Sunday saw participation by several faith leaders who denounced the divisive political environment in the country and called on Americans to stand up for Muslims facing increasing threat and pressure.

IMAGE: People turned up in the thousands, irrespective of class or religion to participate in the rally. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

Addressing the rally, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said America was founded to respect all faiths and all beliefs and stereotypes against the Muslim community has to be dispelled.

“The message I want to give as mayor of the city to everyone regardless of background or faith or where you were born is that this is your city and this is your country,” he said.

The mayor said America was founded by people who were fleeing religious persecution and was founded to respect all faiths and all beliefs.

“This is who we are as Americans and this must be protected. An attack on anybody’s faith is an attack on all people of faith,” he said.

IMAGE: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who attended the rally, said America was founded to respect all faiths and all beliefs and stereotypes against the Muslim community has to be dispelled.. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Lauding the 900 Muslim members of the New York Police Department, de Blasio said the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world are “overwhelming peace loving” people who care about their community.

“We have to dispel the stereotypes faced by the Muslim community,” de Blasio said declaring at the end of his speech that “I’m proud to say today I’m a Muslim too”.

Eminent Sikh-American speaker and activist Simran Jeet Singh said he is supporting the rally “because as a Sikh, we know what discrimination and oppression feels like. We want a world that is acceptable and tolerant”. 

IMAGE: Actor Susan Sarandon said given the political environment in the country, it is no longer possible to be neutral. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Sarandon said given the political environment in the country, it is no longer possible to be neutral. “If you are silent, then you are complacent.

“We are here because we will not be a cog in a machine that is dismantling our constitution, that is dismantling our bills of rights,” she said to loud cheers from the crowd.

Sarandon added that New Yorkers should tell their representatives that the city is “open and accepting”.

“We will fight hatred with love, we will fight bigotry with inclusivity. And today I am a Muslim too,” she said.

IMAGE: A Muslim man kneels on Broadway Ave. as he takes part in afternoon prayers during an "I am Muslim Too" rally in Times Square. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

American-Muslim woman Latisha James said she was proud to be part of the solidarity rally that was sending a strong message that people are coming together to support the community and will not tolerate discrimination against its members.

“Everyone is of the same nature. There should be no discrimination, we are all the same. We all migrated to America so for Trump to put a ban on Muslims and refugees is not appropriate. It’s not going to happen,” she said.

She said a lot of Muslims and refugees have been discriminated against and “it’s good that everyone has come together finally to support the Muslims”. 

IMAGE: People chanted slogans and held banners of ‘Love Trumps Hate’ and ‘USA, USA’ and ‘No Muslim Ban’. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

-- THE ERA OF TRUMP BEGINSYoshita Singh

© Copyright 2017 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
Tags: Muslims, New York

Write a
Comment
Print this
article

 

ALSO
READ

MOST
RECENT

 

MOST
COMMENTED

Stars spotted!  

Quiz: What are Sridevi's names in ChaalBaaz?
In a special series, we will put YOU to the...

More stars spotted

Met a celebrity?
Email us photos & videos

#footerLinks {border-top:1px solid #d1d1d1;border-bottom:1px solid #d1d1d1;padding:5px 0;margin:25px 0 0 0;text-align:center;} #footerLinks span{font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif,FreeSans;font-size:10px;margin:0px 5px;} .footer{margin:10px 0 0 0;border:none;padding:0 0 10px 0;}

News India  |  Latest News India  |  Bollywood News  |  Indian Cricket Score  |  India Business News  |  India Abroad Person of the Year 2014

rediff on the net© 2017 Rediff.com - Investors - Advertise - Disclaimer - Privacy - Careers - Feedback | Terms of use | India Abroad weekly

Rediff News  All News 

Rediff.com  » News » In New York, protesters take to the streets to say 'I Am Muslim Too'

In New York, protesters take to the streets to say 'I Am Muslim Too'

February 20, 2017 13:05 IST

'We will fight hatred with love, we will fight bigotry with inclusivity. And today I am a Muslim too.'

New Yorkers by the thousand, representing myriad backgrounds and faiths, converged on Times Square, to let Muslims know their fellow Americans stood by them.

IMAGE: People take part in an "I am Muslim Too" rally in Times Square Manhattan, New York. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Over a thousand people from various faiths declared ‘I am a Muslim too’ as they assembled at the iconic Times Square in New York to express solidarity with the Muslim community and protest against US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

The rally was co-organised by the Foundation For Ethnic Understanding and the Nusantara Foundation in response to the uncertainty and anxiety created by Trump’s now-rescinded executive order to bar citizens from the seven Muslim-majority nations.

The ‘I am a Muslim Too’ solidarity rally drew several thousand people who raised slogans and held banners of ‘Love Trumps Hate’ and ‘USA, USA’ and ‘No Muslim Ban’.

Headlined by American entrepreneur and author Russell Simmons and actress Susan Sarandon, the rally on Sunday saw participation by several faith leaders who denounced the divisive political environment in the country and called on Americans to stand up for Muslims facing increasing threat and pressure.

IMAGE: People turned up in the thousands, irrespective of class or religion to participate in the rally. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

Addressing the rally, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said America was founded to respect all faiths and all beliefs and stereotypes against the Muslim community has to be dispelled.

“The message I want to give as mayor of the city to everyone regardless of background or faith or where you were born is that this is your city and this is your country,” he said.

The mayor said America was founded by people who were fleeing religious persecution and was founded to respect all faiths and all beliefs.

“This is who we are as Americans and this must be protected. An attack on anybody’s faith is an attack on all people of faith,” he said.

IMAGE: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who attended the rally, said America was founded to respect all faiths and all beliefs and stereotypes against the Muslim community has to be dispelled.. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Lauding the 900 Muslim members of the New York Police Department, de Blasio said the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world are “overwhelming peace loving” people who care about their community.

“We have to dispel the stereotypes faced by the Muslim community,” de Blasio said declaring at the end of his speech that “I’m proud to say today I’m a Muslim too”.

Eminent Sikh-American speaker and activist Simran Jeet Singh said he is supporting the rally “because as a Sikh, we know what discrimination and oppression feels like. We want a world that is acceptable and tolerant”. 

IMAGE: Actor Susan Sarandon said given the political environment in the country, it is no longer possible to be neutral. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Sarandon said given the political environment in the country, it is no longer possible to be neutral. “If you are silent, then you are complacent.

“We are here because we will not be a cog in a machine that is dismantling our constitution, that is dismantling our bills of rights,” she said to loud cheers from the crowd.

Sarandon added that New Yorkers should tell their representatives that the city is “open and accepting”.

“We will fight hatred with love, we will fight bigotry with inclusivity. And today I am a Muslim too,” she said.

IMAGE: A Muslim man kneels on Broadway Ave. as he takes part in afternoon prayers during an "I am Muslim Too" rally in Times Square. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

American-Muslim woman Latisha James said she was proud to be part of the solidarity rally that was sending a strong message that people are coming together to support the community and will not tolerate discrimination against its members.

“Everyone is of the same nature. There should be no discrimination, we are all the same. We all migrated to America so for Trump to put a ban on Muslims and refugees is not appropriate. It’s not going to happen,” she said.

She said a lot of Muslims and refugees have been discriminated against and “it’s good that everyone has come together finally to support the Muslims”. 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: astroturf; atheists4islamists; communistfront; islam; jihad; muslim; newyork; radicals; terrorism; usefulidiots
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last
To: Jyotishi

Crate all their dumb muslim azzes up, give a one-way ticket and ship em all to Somalia. See how they like living under Sharia Law.
The insanity of liberalism is beyond comprehension. We cannot co-exist with these zombies.


21 posted on 02/20/2017 1:17:52 PM PST by lgjhn23 (It's easy to be liberal when you're dumber than a box of rocks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lgjhn23

Chelsea should be running this year-—in the Kentucky Derby.


22 posted on 02/20/2017 1:18:41 PM PST by MarvinStinson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Sarah Barracuda

Many of these people were around and were dancing then


23 posted on 02/20/2017 1:19:18 PM PST by Phil DiBasquette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

These are not the sorts of people who, had they lived in Germany in the 30’s, would have said, “We are all Jews now.”

They would have said something quite different. Perhaps “We are all Aryans now,” or “Heil.”


24 posted on 02/20/2017 1:21:48 PM PST by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tea Party Terrorist

She really is unfortunate looking and I’m being kind. Was she driven to this event in a chauffeured limo with her Secret Service detail riding shotgun?


25 posted on 02/20/2017 1:22:07 PM PST by surrey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: brucedickinson
There at least two generations of Americans who have absolutely no idea who Susan Sarandon is.
26 posted on 02/20/2017 1:23:09 PM PST by jmacusa (Election 2016. The Battle of Midway for The Democrat Party.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: tet68

“stupidity of the leftist”

I can’t believe how stupid they are. Trump has said a hundred times he is not banning Muslims, he is enhancing vetting so terrorist don’t get into the country.

These stupid people put their ignorance on display for everyone to see, don’t they know they are tools of the global elites?

And don’t the stupid Muslims know they are now being used as tools for the left, just as blacks are? The left could give a s*it about the Muslim faith.


27 posted on 02/20/2017 1:23:11 PM PST by Rennes Templar (Morning in America Again, again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

tomorrow those females will be stoned to death for being out on the public streets without their husbands...

after all they are now moslems...and that’s what happens to moslem women...


28 posted on 02/20/2017 1:23:45 PM PST by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

Fine. Y’all can move to Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. See how much THEY will put up with the BS.

They have no idea...


29 posted on 02/20/2017 1:25:29 PM PST by madison10 (The MSM has my utmost loathing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: madison10

$oro$ thinks this is money well spent?

Ha, it’s only showing America how insane the left is.


30 posted on 02/20/2017 1:28:40 PM PST by bicyclerepair
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

That muslim is not kneeling in prayer. He accidentally dropped his detonator and is looking for it...


31 posted on 02/20/2017 1:29:18 PM PST by donozark (Lock her up! Kick 'em out! Build the wall! GO TRUMP!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

https://youtu.be/SGIPNl5Vbcc


32 posted on 02/20/2017 1:30:12 PM PST by sit-rep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

The mayor said America was founded by people who were fleeing religious persecution,,,,,So who is persecuting these savages in their homeland?


33 posted on 02/20/2017 1:31:01 PM PST by Safetgiver (Islam makes barbarism look genteel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

Imagine this right after 9-1-1.


34 posted on 02/20/2017 1:34:22 PM PST by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tea Party Terrorist

35 posted on 02/20/2017 1:39:39 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Good judgement comes from experience. And experience? Well, that comes from poor judgement.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

When does the women stoning and throwing gays off of buildings begin?


36 posted on 02/20/2017 1:43:23 PM PST by lowbridge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi
Frankly, I would suspect that this rally is profoundly offensive to sincere Muslims! It is profoundly patronizing, as well as deliberately misleading. As the ban is not per se against Muslims, treating Muslims as victims is insulting.

In identifying Faith driven people with a non-existent "victimization"; it tends to trivialize actual Faith.

37 posted on 02/20/2017 1:45:13 PM PST by Ohioan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

America needs to realize that NYC, LA,San Francisco drain the real blood from America’s veins. THEY get more welfare per capita and government services. That is because they are the numbers that keep Evil Democrats in power. THEY ALWAYS CONTROL The most important positions.


38 posted on 02/20/2017 1:46:04 PM PST by Herman Ball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Safetgiver

The mayor said America was founded by people who were fleeing religious persecution,,,,,So who is persecuting these savages in their homeland?


In their homeland, the muslims are the persecutors.


39 posted on 02/20/2017 1:48:50 PM PST by joshua c (Cut the cord! Don't pay for the rope they hang you with.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

So they hate gays, Christians and religious tolerance, and they want a theocracy. Thanks for the warning. I am NOT a Muslim and have no need to be one.


40 posted on 02/20/2017 1:49:56 PM PST by Williams (Stop tolerating the intolerant.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson