Anti-Islam Rally Held Outside Arizona Mosque

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Police officers lined barricades separating protesters and counter-protesters who gathered outside a Phoenix mosque Friday evening in response to a planned "freedom of speech" demonstration where attendees were encouraged to bring weapons and offensive caricatures.

Police presence increased by 6:30 p.m. to physically separate the two sides outside the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, USA Today reported.
About 20 cars and 15 motorcycles traveled from a protester meeting point at a nearby park to the mosque around 6 p.m., where people from the two sides used megaphones to yell at each other and were at times nose-to-nose.
A large group of counter protesters held signs reading "Love not Hate," as others waved American flags and one man ripped the Holy Quran in half.
Counter protesters wearing blue lined the side closest to the mosque. They said they came from Redemption Church in Tempe and wore the color to be a peaceful presence.
People showed up for the mosque's scheduled prayer service.
A Facebook event organized by Jon Ritzheimer for the demonstration had about 1,300 people who said they would attend Friday evening — many more than were in attendance — but Phoenix police were out in force to provide security near the mosque. Ritzheimer said Friday that he was hoping to inspire more freedom of speech rallies.
"This is not about me," he said. "This is about freedom of speech across America"
Nearly as many people responded to an event asking social media users to post using the hashtags #NotMyAmerica and #PhxMosque to show solidarity with the Muslim community.
Usama Shami, president of the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, said before the planned protest Friday afternoon that the event was about intimidation.
"Ignore people who try to provoke you," he said. "Say 'peace' and walk away."
Organizers of the demonstration have encouraged attendees to come armed "just in case our First Amendment comes under much anticipated attack."
Phoenix Muslim leaders said the demonstration and its potential to incite violence is just a way to infringe on their freedom to practice religion without hate and bigotry.
Muslim Advocates, a California-based civil rights organization, sent a request to the U.S. Department of Justice Friday asking for the department to open a civil rights investigation into the protest.