New York, March 6, 2011 -- Standing resolutely on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Times Square, speakers including the general secretary of the National Council of Churches addressed a rally opposing Congressional hearings on Islam being held by Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.)
King has denied that his inquiries into Islam are "anti-Muslim," but in prepared remarks Sunday the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon said, "No matter what Rep. King may say, his hearings convey the implicit message that Muslims aren’t part of 'us' -- and to this sort of bigotry, all citizens of conscience must say no! When the family portrait of this country is painted, Muslims should have, must have, an honored place in it."
The theme of the rally, expressed on signs held by many of the 500 participants and echoed by the speakers, was, "Today, I am a Muslim, too."
The NCC general secretary recounted a list of groups in U.S. history that have been rejected by the majority as "not part of 'us,' including Native Americans who were forced from their homes, African American who were enslaved, and Japanese-Americans who were forced into detention camps during the Second World War.
Full story, http://www.ncccusa.org/news/110307timessquarerally.html
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