Muslim Community Readies For Protest, Cartoon Drawing Contest At Phoenix Mosque
Concern is growing in advance of a planned rally in Phoenix that will include a cartoon drawing contest of the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic community is discouraging people from coming to the event, which will take place outside a prominent mosque during Friday prayers.
Organizers said it will be a peaceful “freedom of speech” rally to expose the violence of Islam. At the same time, they are also encouraging bikers and others who come to “utilize their Second Amendment right.” That has many people nervous about what could transpire outside the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix.
Imraan Siddiqi, who is president of the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the purpose of the rally is to intimidate the Muslim community.
“Firstly, this is not about a 'draw the Prophet contest.' Secondly, this is not about challenging radical Islam, as the protest leaders are now scrambling to say," he said. "It is explicitly stated on the Facebook page of this group that’s protesting they want to rid America of Islam.”
Siddiqi said this protest comes on the heels of letters sent to several mosques in the Valley that threatened to “massacre” worshipers.
But Jon Ritzheimer, a former Marine and the organizer behind the protest, said this is about free speech and countering the “death cult” of Islam. He was motivated to organize the rally after the recent shootings in Garland, Texas, by two Muslim men who had attended the mosque in Phoenix.
“We have militia groups coming out to play a neutral role. I’m not the only one in this country who sits on the couch and sees another thing on the news and says 'I wish someone would do something.' It’s time for us to get together and take it to their doorstep,” said Ritzheimer in an interview with KJZZ before the rally.
Ritzheimer has organized a similar event before. More than 1,000 people had RSVP’d on the Facebook event page for this rally as of midday Friday.
Dr. Yasir Shareef, who is with the Council on American-Islamic Relations Arizona, said they are asking people to stay away from the rally and will be organizing their own interfaith gathering next week.
“We have to counter hate with love or the haters win," said Shareef. "That’s what the Prophet Muhammad taught us, and you cannot draw that in a cartoon."
Police have been in contact with the mosque and event organizers and will have a presence at the rally, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday.
