Militiamen Plan to Bring Guns to Mosques Around Nation in 'Global' Protest of Islam
Armed rallies in 20 cities being organized in social media, fueled with rants posted by Arizona 'Patriot'
The perfect storm of Islamophobia cresting around the nation could reach a new watermark of ugliness this weekend, as armed protesters are planning to gather outside at least 20 mosques in various locations around the United States.
Calling the protests part of a the self-described 鈥淧atriots鈥 plan to bring weapons to protest听outside Muslim worship centers on Saturday.
The protests are the brainchild of Phoenix anti-Muslim activist Jon Ritzheimer, who by organizing an armed protest outside a Phoenix-area mosque. Ritzheimer then told that he intended to take his protest idea global.听Ritzheimer also has a history of issuing ugly threats, including听听for having voted in favor of President Obama鈥檚 arms deal with Iran. Even his fellow militiamen from Michigan听.
But he's energized once again with his plan for the weekend.听
鈥淚鈥檓 going to tell everybody to utilize your Second Amendment [rights] in case we come under that much anticipated attack," he said. Ritzheimer never explained who he thought might attack them.
Two days after posting a video announcing the protest, he posted another video disavowing any responsibility for the protests, saying he was not the 鈥渕astermind鈥 鈥 鈥淣o, I cannot take credit for such a wonderful rally鈥 鈥 but that he was avidly supporting it anyway. He听punctuated that video by holding up a copy of the Koran and shooting it with a pistol.
In late August he posted another video that once again promoted the protest and attacked Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who will be leading a protest Saturday in Washington D.C. Ritzheimer warned him not to carry out a purported plan to take down the American flag at the White House.
鈥淛ust know that we III Percent, we militiamen are standing at the ready across our nation,鈥澨 he said. 鈥淎nd when you strike, we will strike back. We will level and demolish every mosque across this country."
Despite Ritzheimer鈥檚 claims of a 鈥済lobal鈥 protest that would include Australia and the U.K., so far events are confined to the United States, spread around in 22 cities so far (), with the largest concentration of them in Florida and Texas, where three cities are scheduled to see armed protesters.听Each of the Facebook page promoting a protest has taken听a localized approach: 鈥淥ur local law enforcement officers and our country are under threat like never before. Rally up with other patriots in support of local law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect us,鈥 read the Facebook page for
Meanwhile, , the pitch was a different concern: 鈥淲e need to send a clear message to them that we won't accept Sharia Law here in this county!!鈥
The Council for Islamic-American Relations urging mosque-goers to be careful and take safety precautions this weekend.听
"A lot of the times with stuff like this, we don't know if it's just bluster or something serious,鈥 CAIR executive director Ibrahim Hooper told the . "Our position is generally not to give attention to people seeking cheap publicity. But there's been enough violent rhetoric around this event that we just felt it prudent to alert the community about what actions they can take to make sure everyone is safe and secure."
Organizing each of the rallies was fairly simple: All a would-be organizer had to do was create a new page on Facebook, following instructions from the : 鈥淭his is how fellow patriots in your area can get in touch with one another. And if there is not an event page set up for your area yet then its time for you to take the initiative and start a page and invite patriots and share it.鈥
It is not certain all the rallies will come off as planned. At least one 鈥 in Racine, Wisc. 鈥 after their Facebook page was filled with disgusted reactions from locals.
"Unbelievable! And people wonder why we have mass shootings. Stop teaching hate!鈥 one reader responded.
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