Last month, the American Muslim Political Action Committee announced that it would be conducting its “Million Muslim March” late Wednesday afternoon on the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Rather than focus on commemorating the lives lost in the attacks, the protesters have chosen to draw attention to 9/11 conspiracy theories and discrimination against Muslims.
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From The Huffington Post:
Organizers at the group American Muslim Political Action Committee (AMPAC) didn’t exactly do a lot to engender sympathy for an event held on one of the most emotionally charged days of the year. The group is led by M.D. Rabbi Alam, a professed 9/11 truther who has pushed controversial anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about the attacks…
Organizers of the Million Americans Against Fear rally have defended the timing of their event by noting that “Muslim[s] and Non Muslim[s] alike were traumatized” on Sept. 11, 2001. AMPAC has insisted that the march will be about civil rights, indefinite detention and countering inaccurate depictions of Islam and Muslims. It also appears, however, that trutherism will still play a significant role; the DC Area 9/11 Truth Movement and Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth Movement are currently listed as partners.
The announcement drew expected opposition, which came to fruition in a counter-protest billed ‘2 million bikers to DC.’ While the AMPAC received a permit for its protest, the bikers were denied one for theirs, yet this minor roadblock isn’t stopping the bikers from following through with their rally.
From The Washington Times:
Officials with 2 Million Bikers to DC said that despite failing to secure a permit from the National Park Service, the ride through the D.C. area will happen — even if it takes all day.
“We apologize to D.C. residents, but they had plenty of time to help us with this rally,” said Belinda Bee, national coordinator for the 2 Million Bikers to DC rally, referring to federal and local authorities. “We realized there was going to be a lot of traffic. We would have gotten through town in two hours. For some reason the powers that be in D.C. no longer feel Americans have the right to voice an opinion.”
The motorcycle rally’s Facebook page bills the event as a way to “remember those who were killed on 911 and honor our armed forces who fought those who precipitated this attack.”
Nearly 3,000 people died after terrorists hijacked jets on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, and crashed them into the World Trade Center buildings in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington. Another hijacked plane headed for the District crashed in Shanksville, Pa.
Ms. Bee said the rally was planned as a way to protest the American Muslim Political Action Committee’s Million American March Against Fear, scheduled for noon.
“It was,” she said, noting that the focus was eventually broadened.
“We didn’t want a war,” she said. “No. 2, Muslims get enough attention. It’s time for America to get attention.”
The Million American March Against Fear — originally called the Million Muslim March but rechristened after the name prompted widespread publicity earlier this year — was permitted by the National Park Service for 1,000 people for the location between 13th and 14th streets in Northwest, Park Service spokeswoman Carol Johnson said.
Both protests are expected to draw much fewer participants than their marketed numbers, although the biker rally is likely to see a better turnout than the Muslim march.
From The Weekly Standard:
An office building manager in downtown Washington, D.C. is preparing for the 9/11 “Million Muslim March” by explaining to the tenants of the building what’s expected for tomorrow.
“Below is information relating to Wednesday’s Million Muslim March,” the memo begins.
March Estimates: Police concur that the best estimate on the size of the March will be somewhere in the hundreds, not thousands, of participants. That number may include entire families with children in tow.”
The counter-protest is expected to be much larger. “Counter-Protest Estimates: Police estimate that there could be as many as three thousand (3000) bikers trying to circle the March and drown out the sound of the speakers at the kick-off rally with their engine noise. No other counter protest groups that are being taken seriously have identified themselves and/or made their intentions known, but that does not mean there will not be any others,” reads the memo.
Watch a video of the bikers beginning their rally:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr-7oKW3TUU&w=420&h=315]
Related articles
- ‘Million Muslim March’ 2013 and ‘2 Million Bikers’ [VIDEO]: Washington D.C. rally expected on anniversary of September 11 attacks (christiantoday.com)
- D.C. throws up roadblock for patriotic bikers (wnd.com)
- Bikers organize massive counter protest to Million Muslim March (bizpacreview.com)