The hysteria of the anti-Mosque crowd continues in Staten Island.
Another Sunday, another protest against proposed Staten Island mosque
by Virgina N. Sherry
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Midland Beach residents opposed to the sale of the empty convent of St. Margaret Mary parish to a Muslim group rallied yesterday afternoon for the second straight Sunday in front of the 2½ -story building, and this time other Staten Islanders joined them, carrying their own protest signs.
“I’m here to support this community because of how frightened everyone is of this group coming in to the neighborhood — the terrorism factor is a big part of it,” said Suzanne Adamo of Castleton Corners, who was born and raised in Midland Beach. She was referring to the Muslim American Society, a national organization whose Brooklyn/Staten Island chapter signed a contract last month with Rev. Keith Fennessy, the parish pastor, to purchase the convent.
“To me, they’re too closed,” added her husband Sal Adamo. “We don’t know them. It’s up to them to show us what and who they are. It’s very frightening.”
One sign on bright yellow cardboard read in black capital letters: “Muslim Brotherhood You Are Not Welcome Here.”
A major issue that has energized opponents of the convent-to-mosque conversion is the alleged links of MAS founders to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, and the belief of many neighborhood residents that the Muslim Brotherhood is itself a terrorist organization.
The U.S. State Department maintains a publicly available list of foreign terrorist organizations. The most current list, dated January 2010, includes the names of 45 groups from around the globe. The Muslim Brotherhood is not on the list.
‘NO FOREIGN TIES’
“Everyone in this country has safety concerns, and I think that’s fair and valid, especially in the wake of September 11,” MAS local spokeswoman Lana Safah said in a phone interview on last night.
“We want to reiterate that we have no ties or affiliations to any foreign entities whatsoever,” she added. “And we have maintained the same position from the beginning — we are willing to speak to whoever wishes to speak to us.”
“I’m very against the way this sale went through — it was deceitful and sinful,” said Carolyn Pinto of New Dorp, who attended St. Margaret Mary elementary school. “This is a Christian community. The people here are the church. Archbishop [Timothy] Dolan has hurt the Catholics of Midland Beach, and it cuts like a knife.”
Anthony Sagona, also New Dorp, saw no nuance. “We don’t want the mosque. This is a nice neighborhood and we hope to keep it that way,” he said, adding that he was born in Midland Beach and lived there for 50 years. “I hope the deal falls through.”
Native Islander Christine Marra of Grant City said she was “opposed to the sale of the convent to a non-Christian organization,” and held a hand-written sign that read “Tell the Archdiocese No Mosque. Boycott the Basket.”
“I feel betrayed by the New York Archdiocese,” she commented. “I’ve been donating money my entire adult life with the intention of spreading the Gospel and the Christian message.”
TENSION OVER A BANNER
Some division in the anti-mosque crowd became apparent when a long banner was unfurled, emblazoned with color photographs and the words “We Will Never Forget!” It referenced the killing of Coptic Christians in Egypt, where they remain a beleaguered minority without full civil rights, including freedom of worship and the right to freely build churches.
The U.S. State Department, in its 2009 “Report on International Religious Freedom,” said that Egypt’s constitution “provides for freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites,” but added that “the Government restricts these rights in practice. Islam is the official state religion, and Shari’a is the principal source of legislation.”
One of the people holding up the banner was Magdi Saweres, a Cairo-born Copt who has lived in Midland Beach for the last eight years.
“You see..they [Islamic extremists] killed these kids in Egypt,” he explained to someone reading the large banner.
“That’s not our issue! They should not be here!” said Rosemary Vasquenz, an officer of the Midland Beach Civic Association, who then walked away in disgust.
“We’re not in Egypt — we’re in the U.S.” another resident chimed in.
“They’re on our side, believe me,” intervened Thomas Bosco of Grasmere, who was helping to hold up the large banner.
Unlike the first rally last Sunday, yesterday’s included a uniformed police presence, and officers restricted protestors to the sidewalk after many spilled out onto Greeley Avenue, raising signs and cheering when drivers of passing vehicles slowed down and honked horns in support.
The rally, with about 175 people at its height, was periodically interrupted by a lone counter-demonstrator standing across the street from the convent. His shouts were ignored by the vociferous yet peaceful crowd.
It concluded at 1:30 p.m., with the crowd chanting “USA! USA!” as they dispersed.
MAS REACTION
The Advance received this written statement from MAS in reaction to yesterday’s rally:
“We as Americans understand and fully appreciate the need to feel safe, and the right and necessity to look into the background of any party or group.
“However, it is equally as important for individuals to do their homework, not just rely on the research and propaganda of other parties.
“We have and continue to make ourselves available for any sit downs or questions, be it with the Church board, Community Leaders or individuals in the community. We are committed to communication and dialog, and are willing at any time to address any valid community concerns.”
Archbishop Dolan said it best on his blog: “Yes, it is acceptable to ask questions about security, safety, the background and history of the groups hoping to build and buy… What is not acceptable is to prejudge any group, or to let fear and bias trump the towering American virtues of hospitality, welcome, and religious freedom.”
June 21st, 2010 at 3:29 pm
This is getting ugly, I hope they can find a way to reslove this
June 21st, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I meant resolve-I’m a lousy typist
June 21st, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Really, what’s new?
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:58 am
This hate is offensive to those of us who are Catholic and Christian. Islamophobia is not a part of the Catholic faith and is certainly not Christian!
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Staten Island’s initial property boom was fed by whites running away from minorities moving into Queens and Brooklyn. It’s the only borough of New York City where Republicans have a support base, I believe McCain may have even carried the island in the 2008 election. What’s really ironic to me is that many of these people are Catholic, and the same slurs they are hurling against Muslims were being hurled at Catholics, verbatim, over a hundred years ago.
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:18 pm
I want to counter-demonstrate these Nazis. I am not pro-Moslem, I am anti-Nazi. Hearing of na Catholic cleric caving into Nazis has such a bad historial flavor, does it it. If you know of a counter-demo, let me know, I’m ready to take on these bigots.
L Rockwood
June 23rd, 2010 at 3:46 am
I have lived and worked in Muslim countries most of my life. These are people who still believe in stoneing women for adultry, amputation for theft, domestic slavery and much worse. Try opening a christian church in one of their countries. To them the USA is a prime opportunity. It is wealthy, provides equal opportunities (Arab countries are sometimes wealthy, but only a very few have access to money, most people are dirt poor) and as the Europeans have already found out (in France, Moslem births outnumber non moslem 8 to 1) what starts as a few, quickly become a voting block, then overwhelm the communities bringing in their own schools and laws. They are not welcome in Europe, but the USA has yet to learn the lesson. In Europe, they learnt it late, when it cant help, the USA needs to look at immigration from these communities and frankly, start to stand up to them and not be so afraid of being called racist when all that they really want is to continue in the traditions that have built the greatest country in the world.
June 23rd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Hey James,
I have lived in a christian country all my life. It’s called the U.S, where they lock up a larger portion of their population than any other country in the world, many of the states execute citizens, and where poor members of society are not given a dam* about (Katrina), where racist law enforcement beat minorities (Rodney King), and where states require people to produce documents upon demand just like the Nazis (Arizona immigration law).
I was BORN here as a muslim. Guess what, I have kids and they will have kids (ALLAH willing)…. and we will build more mosques and more mosques….. so GET over it. Muslims are here to STAY…. At one time in U.S history the KKK marched in the millions in front of the white house…..40 years later, they are pariahs of our great nation. Tea bagger and Islamaphobes have the same fate. Mark my words… This country goes through bouts of racism and hatred only to have it fizzle in the end….
Goods luck fighting a losing battle…the moooooslems are here to stay!
June 23rd, 2010 at 8:37 pm
James, you haven’t worked in Muslim countries. You don’t have to bring Robert Spencer or Pam Geller idiocy to this site.
Fact: Nearly ALL Muslim countries have churhces
Fact: only 6 Muslim countries, out of 57, use stoning. Stoning is debated amongst scholars if it is islamic.
If you were mature you’d knowin Islam men and women have the exact same punishments.
June 24th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Hey cool story James (Sarcasm)
June 24th, 2010 at 2:23 am
James
I live in France . Where did you get that rubbish about muslim births out numbering others 8 to 1 ?
Sorry you are obviously a refugee fromm Pam and Robert world . This is such an outragious lie I am impressed . You should apply for a job with the IDF if you dont work there already.
June 24th, 2010 at 10:11 am
@ James: “in France, Moslem births outnumber non moslem 8 to 1″.
That is an outrageous and silly claim. Sources? OHHH WAIIIT, LET ME PROVIDE IT FOR YOU.
Taken from CIA Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html):
Population total: 64,057,792
Birth rate: 12.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Muslim (ESTIMATE): 5%-10%; Note, wikipedia stated that French government forbids collective data of individuals’ religious faith.
Based on this: total annual birth would be 796,238
Birth from muslim (based ON YOUR CLAIM): 707,767
Birth from non muslim (based ON YOUR CLAIM): 88,471
See? It starts to look retarded. BUT LET US CONTINUE, SHALL WE?
Let us take the most optimist claim of muslim population, 10%. TO HELP REDUCE THE STUPIDITY LEVEL OF YOUR CLAIM, LET US ASSUME ALL OF MUSLIM ARE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER.
Total muslim: 6,405,779
Birth rate per 1,000 muslim population: 110.49!!!
AND that is OUTRAGEOUS. Highest birth rate per 1,000 population is Congo (49.6) based on UN data OR Nigeria (51.60) based on CIA Factbook.
What say you?
June 25th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
As a Staten Islander, I can assure loonwatchers that the article reprinted here, and others like it, are not accurate vis-a-vis the issue playing out in the Midland Beach neighborhood.
Yes, Midland Beach can in some measure be characterized as an insular neighborhood comprising many Italian-American Catholic New Yorkers from less than one to two generations removed from adjacent Brooklyn, NY. Yes, there is certainly racism, bigotry and other phobias, if you will, afoot there.
But a large number of those protesting the proposed sale of a Catholic Church property to a Muslim group are gravely concerned about the specific entity in question, the Muslim American Society (MAS). While not all of that number are sophisticated in terms of education and argumentation, they instinctively “get it” on the basis of readily available information: The MAS, on the basis of carefully documented research by a number of decidedly *unloony* organizations (including the Anti-Defamation League, or ADL, which is an anti-bigotry organization with a long and storied history, and the Investigative Project on Terrorism, or IPT, which is recognized by Congress Members from both sides of the aisle and by a number of high counterterrorism officials, including former counterterrorism “czar” Richard Clarke as having made signal contributions to tracking terrorist activity, particularly financing, can reasonably be alleged to have close ties to terrorists and terrorism, to militant Islamism, which is dangerous religious extremism, and to virulent expressions of hatred toward Israel and toward Jews. Readers can adjudge the merits of the allegations themselves by looking at the ADL’s newly-updated backgrounder on the MAS, found here:
http://www.adl.org/main_Anti_Israel/Muslim_American_Society.htm
and by looking at the IPT’s detailed 42-page assessment dated January 1, 2008, which can be found here:
http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/169
and its update on the Staten Island controversy and on MAS political wing head Mahdi Bray dated June 20, 2010, found here:
http://www.investigativeproject.org/2001/mahdi-brays-slippery-evasions
June 27th, 2010 at 10:42 am
I am for the protestors. Not against the Muslim religion but against what will happen to the people’s property values. Its bad enough that the economy has tanked, and the people are paying higher taxes that what the value of the property is but if the sale goes through, Their property value will go down even more. There will be nothing but tension in the neighborhood and then people will start to sell to get away from all the tension. so now the people who cant afford to sell because their mortgage will be higher than what the sale of the house. Nobody wants them there and they have every right to protect their homes and investments. I am not prejudice , but when something comes into a community and brings down the value of their invetment (YOUR HOME ) its just not right.
June 27th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
These protestors are not “nazis”, they are concerned citizens. It’s called freedom of speech.
June 28th, 2010 at 12:52 am
Actually Joe in my experiance Mosques increace propertry values because people want to worship locally so they would prefer to buy a house next to the mosque
June 28th, 2010 at 3:50 am
Joe Bruno “I am for the protestors. Not against the Muslim religion but against what will happen to the people’s property values.”
Hogwash, would you side with them if they protesting against the building of a church?No methinks!You are both an Islamophobe and prejudiced!
June 28th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Joe – Would you also support them if they were protesting African Americans moving to the neighborhood – as long as they will use a decline in property value as justification (of course)? That would also fall under freedom of speech.
July 1st, 2010 at 1:17 pm
James may have got the stats from a disputable source but consider his sentiment and read carefully what he pulls from the European lessons:
These are people who still believe in stoning women for adultery, amputation for theft, domestic slavery and much worse. Try opening a christian church in one of their countries. To them the USA is a prime opportunity. It is wealthy, provides equal opportunities (Arab countries are sometimes wealthy, but only a very few have access to money, most people are dirt poor) and as the Europeans have already found out (in France, Moslem births outnumber non moslem 8 to 1) what starts as a few, quickly become a voting block, then overwhelm the communities bringing in their own schools and laws. They are not welcome in Europe, but the USA has yet to learn the lesson. In Europe, they learnt it late, when it cant help, the USA needs to look at immigration from these communities and frankly, start to stand up to them and not be so afraid of being called racist when all that they really want is to continue in the traditions that have built the greatest country in the world.
‘OUR SOCIETY IS TOO OPEN!! 9/11 COULD NEVER HAPPEN IN A SUPPRESSIVE REGIME NO MATTER HOW HARD SOMEONE WOULD TRY…NOBODY IS SCARED OF AMERICAN RETALIATION ANYMORE – IT’S OPEN SEASON ON US!!
LOOK AT THE TIMES SQUARE BOMBER – HE STANDS UP WITH FULL CAPACITY IN COURT AND MOCKS THE JUDGE ‘I AM A MUSLIM SOLDIER’ AND THE CITIZENS VOTED FOR THIS GOVERNMENT THEREBY THEYRE ALL THE SAME’
Get your testicles checked people – keep googling and learn about what these jihaddis are really about and also that THESE MOSQUE’S ARE THEIR TV SETS TEACHING THEM TERROR TACTICS.
there should be a mosque marshal or surveillance cam’s on every muslim imam.
July 3rd, 2010 at 7:54 am
I’m not too surprised to read that this incident happened in Staten Island or new York . Also noticed that the person holding up that sign is hiding his ( or her ) face . Extremely typical of the islamophobes that I met up with or heard about before .
July 4th, 2010 at 1:47 am
J Daniels
Where does this absolute rubbish about France having 8 muslim births to 1 none muslim come from . I live in france its simply not true ! some one is telling you fairy tales and you are obviously childish enough to believe such hateful stuff.
Check out facts and leave hate behind
July 4th, 2010 at 9:18 am
J Daniels said: “Get your testicles checked people – keep googling and learn about what these jihaddis are really about and also that THESE MOSQUE’S ARE THEIR TV SETS TEACHING THEM TERROR TACTICS.
there should be a mosque marshal or surveillance cam’s on every muslim imam.”
Funny thing is, I never received any terror tactics garbage in (or is it on? pardon for my english) the mosque. Unlike terror (interrogation) tactic at Guantanamo. Is that ring the bell? Not yet?
Then, by the same standard, US needs to ban the bible!!! Don’t believe me? Here you go:
Hosea 13:16 NIV: “The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open”
That is tactic #1 to be used on children and pregnant women, yea, dashed the babies against the ground, and rip open pregnant women. I’ll save other tacticS teaching, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, for later use.
BTW, have you visit each and every mosque? As you said, TV SETS, EXACTLY. My “TV Sets” aired different channels. This kind of generalization (“THESE MOSQUE’S ARE THEIR TV SETS TEACHING THEM TERROR TACTICS”) is simply outrageous.
July 8th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
“Those who recommend integration must be considered pea-brained even if they are scholars and scientists. Just try mixing oil and vinegar. Then shake the bottle. After a moment the two substances will separate again. Do you really believe French society could absorb ten million Muslims, who would be twenty million tomorrow and forty million the day after? In fact, my own village would no longer be Colombey-les-deux-Églises but would rather come to be known as Colombey-les-deux-mosques.” President Charles de Gaulle 1959
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:07 pm
When your Christian family has to flee the country they were born in because they are being murdered by Muslims… THEN tell me what a peace-loving people they are.
Notice the requests for Mosques increasing since Obama is president? This is because Muslims build Mosques to indicate they have conquered an area. The want the mosques to represent that they have taken over America. They have mosques already. Why can’t they go to existing mosques to worship?
I have Indian friends who travel 40 miles each way when they want to attend religious service, and they are happy to do so.
No to Mosques. No to illegal Immigrants. No to Obama.
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:33 am
Nobama
So what country are you fleeing ? sounds like California where the nuts come from.
There have been mosques in the UK for over a hundred years, are you suggesting that the UK is a muslim country ? Inshallah as my muslim friends would say! lol get real.
Or that France whoes government gave land in the centre of Paris to build a mosque after the first world war as a way of thanking its muslim subjects is also now a mulim dominated country?
Instead of blaming the Muslims why dont you face the fact that the richest country in the world cannot even get its act together to provide healthcare for all its citizens unlike its near neighbour cuba. Then ask yourself why!
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 am
Sir David, my family had to flee their homelands of Egypt, Syria and Lebanon before finally coming over here LEGALLY, thanks to Catholic relief services. Do you even know what Inshallah means??? It means, “If it is God’s Will. So, you are praying to God that the UK declares itself a Muslim Nation?
The intent of Muslim fanatics is to wipe all other religions from the face of the earth. why else would they be spreading to “capitalistic” societies that they so despise?
And, not sure if you have seen the news, but it does not appear that the US is the richest country in the world.
And, since anyone who shows up at the emergency room can’t be turned away anyway, I don’t know why we need to go trillions of dollar into debt to ensure we supply the lowest grade of healthcare to all, including illegals who should get documented or get out.
No to Mosques. No to Illegals. No to Government Healthcare. No to OBAMA. YES to freedom, peace and all this great land was built on. I support freedome of religion, but I do not support being invaded.
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:42 am
And for Alex… I think the person in the picture wanted the dign to be the focus.. why else would she be quoted in the article with her name? You can find a lot more out about a person with a name and not a picture.
So… I really don’t think she was hiding…
NO MOSQUES. If worshiping at a Mosque is so important to a muslim, let them move to a mosque that already exists.
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
By the way.. .that should say Sign. It’s hard to type accurately when you have so much passion about a position. And certainly, I don’t want to insult anyone. Just wanted to present a perspective.
Thank you.
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
NObamaNohow: Sir David, my family had to flee their homelands of Egypt, Syria and Lebanon
Your family had three homelands? I would have bought your story if your family fled from at least 5 countries.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:50 pm
IbnAbuTalib, not sure how to interpret your comment. My immediate family lived in Egypt, while some uncles and cousins were in Syria and Lebanon. We are grateful for those who made it to the US safely.
In the Middle East, it is common for Christain families to travel between countries to flee religious persecution from muslims.