[TheDon]

The story is under the "State News", under the bottom left side of the page, in the "Top California Headlines" section.

[goldfinch]

Hope they weren't carrying any American flags. Harassing people at their house of worship is repulsive and NOT one of the values our country stands for.

[rface]

Protestors hang Bin Laden effigy outside Culver City mosque
ANDREW DALTON Associated Press

CULVER CITY, Calif. - Activists hanged an effigy of Osama Bin Laden across the street from a Southern California mosque Sunday to protest radical Islam on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

With a crowd of about 100 people shouting "Remember 9-11!" and "No more Jihad!" two men on the back of a pickup truck slipped a noose around the neck of a dummy wearing a Bin Laden mask and strung it up, while the crowd pelted the effigy with shoes.

The protest was organized by the United American Committee, a group that says it promotes awareness of internal threats facing America.

About 70 counter-protesters described the King Fahd Mosque as a peaceful center for area Muslims and yelled "racists go home!" during the ritual. A group of clergy joined hands with some of the mosque's worshippers and stood in a circle in front of the mosque.

"I think it's crazy," said mosque spokesman Usman Madha. "We have never encouraged extremism. We were the first mosque that condemned the Sept.11 atrocities and we kicked out a few people that protested that condemnation."

The United American Committee claimed the mosque supports radical Islam. A report from the Sept. 11 commission said investigators believed two of the hijackers had visited the mosque after arriving in the United States in 2000.

"We are here in love, we are here for the Muslim people," said Peter James, a member of the United American Committee who was dressed in a black bathrobe to resemble an executioner. "We want to give you some free PR. This is a chance to distance yourself from terror."

There were several heated exchanges as protesters crossed the street to confront one another, but no violence and no arrests, Culver City police said.

In 2003, Jewish Defense League activist Earl Krugel pleaded guilty to conspiring to bomb the mosque along with the office of San Diego congressman Darrell Issa. Krugel was killed in prison last year.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I'm very anti-Muslim, and I used to live 1 town over from Culver City. I'm not a supporter of this type of activity. If Muslims want to burn flags and effigies, that's fine for them. I'd prefer we not do it.

[gaijin]

I'm shocked, mystified, and disappointed the mosque congregation didn't come out and JOIN the demonstration!

They should have seen it as a lucky coincidence, and a CHANCE to show how much they abhor extremism.

Cuz they're NOT.

Riiiight........?

[DTogo]

ping!

[radar101]

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)

[Luigi Vasellini]

My only gripe is that you didnt express your freedom of speech to the wahabbi lobby on Friday afternoon when that terrorist training center was packed full!!!

[munin]

lol If you talk to the demonstrators, next time could they do the burning inside the mosque?

[MattinNJ]

....and so it begins.

[RonDog]

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