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Ethnic Understanding and the Nusantara Foundation in response to the uncertainty and anxiety created by Trump’s now-rescinded executive order to bar citizens from the seven Muslim-majority nations.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

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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
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To: Darksheare

Need some of that spray that put away kim’s bro!


41 posted on 02/20/2017 1:55:06 PM PST by Renegade
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To: Jyotishi

We need to send them overseas so they can see what it is like living over there. I doubt they’ll make it back though.


42 posted on 02/20/2017 1:57:25 PM PST by VaeVictis (~Woe to the Conquered~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lgjhn23

THEY ARE FOOLS TODAY, TOO


43 posted on 02/20/2017 2:03:54 PM PST by patriot08 (s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

(And every day)

IDIOTS!!!!!


44 posted on 02/20/2017 2:07:58 PM PST by patriot08 (s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

15 years ago hundreds of people jumped to their deaths in this very same city when Muslims flew airplanes into office buildings...


45 posted on 02/20/2017 2:12:37 PM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

Has there ever been an “I am a Jew” rally in the Islamic supremacist nation of Saudi Arabia?

No?

Do these Americans realize that all so-called moderate muslims bow down to Saudi Arabia 5 times a day, every day, to show their allegiance to a segregated city of Mecca that has a death penalty for any non-muslim who’d dare enter?

Do these Americans realize that Israelis are not permitted to enter Saudi Arabia?

Do these Americans realize that 61% of all muslims in America are first generation settlers?


46 posted on 02/20/2017 2:20:31 PM PST by a fool in paradise (patriots win, Communists and Socialist Just-Us Warriors lose)
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To: Jyotishi

Careful snowflakes. Muslims are OK with you becoming a Muslim today. But if you aren’t also a Muslim tomorrow they”lol kill you. Islam is pretty clear on that.


47 posted on 02/20/2017 2:25:17 PM PST by jdsteel (Give me freedom, not more government.)
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To: johnthebaptistmoore
So, the Left is, now, anti-gay and for treating girls/women as second class citizens.

If these dumb c***s (they've used that word against every Republican woman they've attacked) had paid attention to the organizer of the "Womyn's protest" in DC, they would have known that they support 2nd class citizenship for women under Sharia law.

And the next Womyn's Rally is the Communist holiday "International Woman's Day". Useful idiots for totalitarian slave states.

48 posted on 02/20/2017 2:26:34 PM PST by a fool in paradise (patriots win, Communists and Socialist Just-Us Warriors lose)
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To: Jyotishi

When if ever the Muslim population reaches a majority they will see for themselves what it is to be a Muslim women under sharia, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha


49 posted on 02/20/2017 2:28:35 PM PST by ronnie raygun
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To: Renegade

Ricin seems to be the culprit in that one.


50 posted on 02/20/2017 2:34:35 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

Uh, did they read the Executive Order?


51 posted on 02/20/2017 2:35:09 PM PST by Sam Gamgee
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To: Jyotishi
And NYC mayor DumbBlASSio led this demonstration. The mayor of a city where THIS occurred only 15.5 years ago:

perpetrated by THESE freakin' Muzzlime bast___ds:


52 posted on 02/20/2017 2:35:50 PM PST by EinNYC
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To: Jyotishi

Sad. Too Bad. You are not long for this world. But you will love where you are going. Evil is real.


53 posted on 02/20/2017 2:36:01 PM PST by mulligan
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To: faithhopecharity

The post truth generation hates Christians, so screw them, right? Muslims hate Christians. Enemy of my enemy is my friend.


54 posted on 02/20/2017 2:36:32 PM PST by Sam Gamgee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: jdsteel
Meme for you!


55 posted on 02/20/2017 2:37:28 PM PST by GraceG (Only a fool works hard in an environment where hard work is not appreciated...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: EinNYC

Just curious... Why do the firefighters, police, and others not rush out and beat these folks bloody?

9-11 was the beginning of a hot war with Islam. It really looks like we’re losing that war.


56 posted on 02/20/2017 2:38:04 PM PST by Professional
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To: Safetgiver

So why didn’t they flee to Saudi Arabia?


57 posted on 02/20/2017 2:38:06 PM PST by Sam Gamgee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: jdsteel

It happened in Iran. The left allied with the Muslims to overthrow the Shah, and then were eliminated.


58 posted on 02/20/2017 2:39:28 PM PST by Sam Gamgee
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To: Professional
Just curious... Why do the firefighters, police, and others not rush out and beat these folks bloody?

Because if they did what any sane rational person would do, the Commie Mayor and his best buds at the ACLU would come down like a plague of black flies on that individual. They would be hounded right out of their job. NYC has a large surplus of libtard complete fools who are easily recruited by our enemies. Want some, to add to your collection? Free shipping!

59 posted on 02/20/2017 2:55:26 PM PST by EinNYC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: EinNYC

I suppose the good news is that it’s only 1000 people, and most of them are Hate America First types, mixed in with Illegals and filthy Muslims.

I must say though, I’d be awfully pleased to see the day where people like this would be chased off the street.


60 posted on 02/20/2017 2:59:34 PM PST by Professional
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