Rally,
protest and celebration in Gainesville as Quran-burning is canceled!
Sept.
11, 2010 - Disaster was averted when people in Florida and around the
world rejected the Dove World Outreach Center’s message of
bigotry and
hate, and made it clear that Islamophobia is not acceptable.
Even after the Quran burning was canceled, a few hundred people,
including more than 30 from the Tampa Bay area celebrated at a peaceful
rally and protest/vigil in Gainesville on Sept. 11. The
organizing and
energy of the Gainesville Students for a Democratic Society
(SDS) was
key to the success of the day.
Had the Quran burning occurred
in Gainesville, it would have certainly led to a disastrous situation
here in the US and around the world. And as horrifying a
figure as
Terry Jones is, since he is now the face of Islamophobia,
there’s a
stronger likelihood that it will be un-cool to be
anti-Muslim. And
Jones’ assertion that the Quran burning was canceled because
the
planned Islamic Community Center (the so called “Ground Zero
Mosque”)
would not to be built, has been debunked. It’s
clear that there is
not, nor should there be a quid-pro-quo.
Because the U.S. is
still attacking inside five predominantly Muslim nations (Iraq,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia), and because there are still
a large number of anti-Muslim bigots, we have our work cut out for
us.
But this situation with the Quran burning has turned out to be a
tremendous victory, potentially diffusing anti-Muslim hysteria, and
exemplifies what we the people can do when we are willing to take a
stand for equality, peace, and love.
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Some media coverage of
the Quran-burning controversy:
ABC
Action News (watch),
Orlando Sentinel (watch), Fight Back News! (read), News 13 (read), Free Speech Radio News (listen), WMNF Radioactivity (listen), Fox News 13 (watch), Bay News 9 (read) and (watch), New York Times (read), WTSP 10 (watch) and (read), Channel 8 WFLA (watch), WMNF Evening News (listen)
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Why did we have a vigil?
As anti-Muslim hysteria rapidly escalates in the U.S., now is the time
to take a stand for peace, love and understanding. This
Saturday's
planned Quran-burning in Gainesville has grabbed the attention of the
world. Over the weekend, thousands of Indonesians protested
the
Quran-burning (read); there was a similar protest in
Afghanistan (read)
(video); and even Gen. David Petraeus
said the Quran-burning could endanger U.S. troops (read).
There appears to be an ideological battle occurring before our eyes and
the world is watching to see how the citizens of the United States will
respond. Will Islamophobia become an acceptable sentiment and
a
generation of Muslims be subjected to increased oppression and a life
of fear? It's a legitimate concern given what has happened in
the past
to African-Americans (Jim Crow), Japanese-Americans (internment camps)
and dissenters (McCarthyism), among others. Right now is the
time to
stand up to reactionary, bigoted forces and demand that Muslims all
around the world be treated with the same level of respect and dignity
as Christians, Jews, atheists, agnostics and everyone else.
So, in
solidarity with the Muslim community and in support of freedom of
religion everywhere, there will be a peaceful, non-confrontational
vigil at the
"International Burn a Quran Day" on
9/11. We will be there to spread a message of peace and
love to counter the message of Islamophobia and hate perpetuated
by The Dove World Outreach Center.
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Other
groups were in Gainesville including the Gainesville
area SDS (Students
for a Democratic Society), Gainesville ISO (International Socialist
Organization), and SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine).
If
you have any questions, please contact
info@stpeteforpeace.org. |
Full
page flyer
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E-mail: info@stpeteforpeace.org
