Protesters Against a Downtown Mosque Fill Zuccotti Park Despite Being Denied a Permit

June 6, 2010 4:53pm Updated June 7, 2010 9:01amcommentprint

More than 300 protesters filled Zuccotti Park in a demonstration against a mosque planned just blocks from Ground Zero.

By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

FINANCIAL DISTRICT — Furious protesters who claim plans for a downtown mosque disrespect the memories of 9/11 victims packed Zuccotti Park Sunday despite being denied a permit for their demonstration.

About 300 people, many carrying signs containing anti-Muslim slogans, met at Church Street and Liberty Steet after being denied permission to gather in the privately-owned area opposite the World Trade Center.

But the numbers were so great, police let them flow off the sidewalk and into the park.

The demonstration was organized by a group called Stop Islamization of America, which hopes to prevent a mosque, called the Cordoba House, being built on the site of the former Burlington Coat Factory building on Park Place.

"We felt it was not right to build a mosque right here on the site where thousands were slaughtered," said Tom Scala, 67, who is a member of a group called Veterans Against Jihad and traveled from North Carolina to attend the protest.

"We felt we couldn't go to bed at night without doing something about this problem. We have nothing against Muslims, Islam is the problem."

The protesters' message has already been rejected by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said it was a matter of religious freedom.

The plans for the 13-story mosque and community center have also been approved by Community Board 1.

Police were out in force to control Sunday's event, which was peaceful.

Desiree Bernstein, whose brother-in-law Billy Bernstein died on 9/11, said she was worried about Muslim influence in the U.S.

"I have no problem with Muslims," she said.

"But I've had it with Sharia law. I am not about to see my nation fall under Sharia law."

Narain Kataria, 75, who founded a group called the Indian American Intellectuals Forum, said, "It is an insult and humiliation to the families of more than 3,000 victims of 9/11."

The crowd chanted "USA!" and sang "God Bless America" while holding up signs, many of which associated Islam with violence.

The message offended some passers-by.

Upper West Sider Katie Hain, 39, who was visiting the area with her family, said, "Just because you are Arab or Muslim doesn't mean you are a terrorist."

Comments comment

It's obvious that some of you so called "New Yorkers" are either blind or ignorant or both as to the implications and ramifications of building a mosque near ground zero. Of course it would be like pissing on the graves of the victims and spitting in the faces of the surviving family members, but probably the greatest harm would be done to our Country. No matter what the purported good intentions are, you must realize that this mosque will be exploited by Al Quaeda and other radical Islamic organizations as a victory over America. They will propagandize it as such and use it as a ralling point for recruiting new terrorists. It will also embolden them and encourage them. For God's sake WAKE UP and REMEMBER 9/11, you brain dead idiots!
swifty | June 8, 2010

That would be a slap in the face to all Americans by letting that Mosque be anywhere near Ground zero I SAY HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaboody | June 8, 2010

TomKat: DowntownGal makes excellent points. Oklahoma City Federal Building was blown up by guys with names like Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, killing 168 people. Eric Robert Rudolph bombed the Olympics in Atlanta. All were fundamentalist Christians. Yet there are plenty of churches near the Murrah building and Centennial Park. Just goes to show that bigots come in all races, creeds and colors.
gah | June 7, 2010

My responses: - Hi Proud American. First, Jesus will tell you that Pride is one of the 7 deadly sins. Wise up. Repent. Second, I am a native NYer, you xenophobe. Grew up in Bklyn, lived downtown for decades. You haters are not welcome here. Stay away. Go back to Selma, Alabama, where the Klan will welcome you. TomKat: I guess you never heard of Timothy McVeigh, or the Weathermen, or the IRA, or the FALN, or the ETA, or the abortion clinic bombers? God, people here are really dumb! No wonder they think these Muslims are terrorists. No more posts till you take your meds for your paranoia.
DowntownGal | June 7, 2010

Funny, NYPD let these protesters veer off the sidewalk and walk freely through the park: "But the numbers were so great, police let them flow off the sidewalk and into the park." A different story was witnessed during the anti- Iraq war protests, and various other recent marches which actually had legal permits-- NYPD during those events was vigilant to the point of draconian measure-- prodding and in some cases arresting several people who ventured off the designated sidewalk. There's an implication of hypocrisy, if not conflict and bias in the case of Saturday's protest against the proposed Mosque. The hate and ignorant rhetoric witnessed in this event were accordingly appalling, especially in perhaps the most racially, culturally, and ethnically tolerant and intelligent city in the world. This greatly scars a city that has a statue in it's harbor and a polity that welcomes all walks of life.
mjcveritas | June 7, 2010

Hey Katie Hahn I use to think the same thing, then OVER and OVER and OVER again I see a would-be terrorist or already blown up terrorist with the names "Mohammed" "Al-xxx", "Ahmed". If you show me a John McCalister or a Li Wong Mei blowing up buildings, lemme know
TomKat | June 7, 2010

Thats more than 300. Grow up it is not hate and again most people in downtown NYC are not real New Yorkers. Where are you from.
ProudAMERICAN | June 7, 2010

Stop smoking your hookah, it's effecting your brain. Hate-mongers not welcome Downtown. Go back to the burbs, demonstrate your hatred their. This is our community, we live here. Your days of dictating what is built and not built here are over. Everyone in NYC is tired of your whining and incessant demands. Get over it!
DowntownGal | June 7, 2010

Ah,,OBVIOUSLY there are more than 300 people here, looks more like 5000 or more. Expect more in September
infidel | June 6, 2010

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