Fight Back News Service is circulating the following call for an important demonstration on Sept. 11 in New York City.

Emergency Mobilization Against Racism and Anti-Islamic Bigotry

Say NO to Racism and anti-Islamic Bigotry

Stand for Unity and Solidarity on Saturday, September 11

Saturday Sept. 11 in NYC

1:00 p.m. Assemble and rally at east side of City Hall, then March

Rally at Park Pl. and Church St. (Manhattan)

Why we are marching on September 11th

The Emergency Mobilization Against Racism and Anti-Islamic Bigotry is organizing a rally for civil rights and religious freedom on Saturday, September 11th. This rally is a response to the ugly and violent attacks, both verbal and physical, which are happening more and more frequently around the country. It is also a specific response to the hate-filled protest being called by a coalition of racist and anti-Islamic organizations on September 11th.

The wave of Islamophobia being stirred up against the proposed Islamic Center at Park51 in Lower Manhattan and Islamic institutions and people around the country has poisoned our nation’s climate. We feel we cannot remain silent and surrender the streets of New York City to the forces of hate and bigotry on this day. We must offer an antidote to this poison.

We called this rally for unity and respect only after the well-funded rally called by racist groupings on September 11 had become a national outrage. The MTA agreed to their inflammatory bus ads. The mainstream media gave extensive pre-publicity coverage, including program, speakers, websites and interviews for this September 11 rally of the racist forces. Such pre-publicity has never been given to progressive, anti-war or union struggles. In the face of all this we cannot remain silent.

Our Rally will send a message many thousands strong, of unity, respect and solidarity in the face of the increasing climate of racism and bigotry against Muslims, Arabs and South Asians in the US.

These bigots have very consciously chosen the location of their rally – the proposed Islamic Community Center at Park Place and Church St in lower Manhattan (Park51) – in an attempt to intimidate the Center’s sponsors and the Muslim community as a whole. And they chose the date without regard to the feelings of the thousands of survivors, including many Muslim families, of what happened on 9/11.

This hatred and attempt at intimidation is typical of these groups’ actions all around the country, as mosques and community centers have suffered abusive picketing during Ramadan and other times of prayer; shooting attacks – such as the one this week in Carlton, New York; firebombings; desecration; and attempts to get town and city authorities to deny permits for much-needed expansion plans. These actions have already created an atmosphere that led to the horrific slashing of New York City taxi driver Ahmed Sharif, the desecration the very next day of a mosque in Queens, and fear of many more such heinous attacks.

We are rallying on 9/11 in lower Manhattan to let the racists know that we will be there every time they threaten our Muslim sisters and brothers, that we will not stand for abuse, intimidation, or attacks of any kind, anywhere, at any time.

Finally, we take note of and support the vigil that will be held on September 10th, and respect the choice of those who choose to show their solidarity on that day. Our action on the 11th is a supplement to, not a substitute for, that vigil, in keeping with our main emphasis:

Not one attack on Muslims, any day, anywhere!

Please join us on Saturday, September 11th, at 1pm on the east side of City Hall facing Brooklyn Bridge.

After this initial Unity Rally we will march at 2pm to Park Place and Church Street for a second rally.

For more information, flyers, endorsers see:

www.iacenter.org/muslimsolidarity

DONATE to the mobilization at iacenter.org/muslimsolidaritydonate

ENDORSE the mobilization at iacenter.org/muslimsolidarityendorse

Download flyers, Volunteer and Get Involved at iacenter.org/muslimsolidarity

Partial list of endorsers:

Al-Awda NY Palestine Right To Return Coalition

American Muslims For Palestine

Arab Muslim American Federation-AMAF

Bail Out The People Movement

BAYAN USA-Philippine American Alliance

Bethlehem Neighbor for Peace, Albany, NY

Black Workers For Justice

Bronx Greens

CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities

Casa Esperanza, Plainfield, NJ

Catholic Scholars For Worker Justice, White Plains, NY

Creative Nonviolent Resistance Against Injustice, Wyckoff, NJ

Dec. 12 Movement

Defenders For Freedom, Justice & Equality, VA

Democratic Labor Party, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Drum-Desis Rising Up & Moving

Families United For Justice In America-FUJA

Fight Imperialism Stand Together-FIST

Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition

Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Gabriela USA

Green Party Power to the People, New York, NY

Guyanese American Workers United

In the Name of Humanity

International Action Center

International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network

Islamic Leadership Council of New York

Jersey City Peace Movement

Labor for Palestine

Los Angeles Latino Muslims Association

Malcolm X Grassroots Movement

Masjid As-Salam, Albany, NY

May 1 Workers And Immigrant Rights Coalition

Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice

Million Worker March Movement

Millions For Mumia

MN Anti War Committee

Moratorium Now Coalition To Stop Foreclosures, Evictions & Utility Shutoffs

Muslim Solidarity Committee

New York City Labor Against the War

National Assembly

Nodutdol For Korean Community Development

North East Peace And Justice Action Coalition

NYC Coalition to Stop Islamaphobia

NYC Jericho Movement

Pakistan USA Freedom Forum

Pan Africa News Wire

Peoples Organization For Progress

Project Salam , Albany, NY

Queers For Economic Justice

Radical Women, Harlem, NY

Senegalese Workers Association

Socialist Action

South Bronx Community Congress

Stonewall Warriors

Take Back WBAI Coalition

The Peace Thru Justice Foundation

U.S. Palestinian Community Network, NY

Women In Black, Westchester, NY

Women's Fightback Network

Workers World Party

World Can't Wait

#NewYorkNY #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #AntiRacism #Islamophobia #Park51