As Twitchy reported, a number of groups operating under the name “Global Rally for Humanity” held protests outside 20 or so mosques across the country October 10, the same day that Louis Farrakhan held his #JusticeOrElse rally on the National Mall. Included among those mosques was the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, where the two men who launched an armed attack on Pamela Geller’s Mohammed Art Show in Garland, Texas worshipped.
Global Rally for Humanity protest organizers in Dearborn, Mich., decided to turn their anti-Islam rally into a pro-open carry rally as well. The group’s Facebook event page described its protest this way:
As this invasion of Muslim colonization continues unchecked on American soil, we can only expect the same suffering now endured by EUROPE. Farrakhan’s hate and promotion of inter-ethnic strife is a wake up call. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to save our Republic.
#tentenfifteen
#OpenCarry
https://twitter.com/LanceStein/status/652959921236000768
This was too much for Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, who after the May rally in Phoenix asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Justice Department to investigate the rally. “These demonstrators argue that they are exercising their First Amendment rights,” wrote Ellison. “What they fail to understand is that First Amendment rights are not absolute; they are limited to protect the safety and rights of others.” Got that?
Saturday’s rallies again prompted Ellison to call for an investigation by the Justice Department.
Today, I, and 37 of my colleagues in Congress, sent a letter urging @LorettaLynch to investigate armed protests outside of places of worship
— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) October 9, 2015
Ellison’s letter reads (in part):
The presence of assault weapons coupled with deep seeded bigotry and hate speech creates a clear and present danger to worshipers and threatens lawless action. Beyond the safety concerns the conduct of these demonstrators impedes the First Amendment rights of worshipers.
These demonstrators argue that they are exercising their First Amendment rights. Freedom of Speech and the Freedom to Assemble are bedrock principles that distinguish free societies from tyrannical regimes. These freedoms, however, are not absolute. The constitution does not protect behavior that prevents the free exercise of religion or causes the incitement of violence or prejudice against protected groups.
…
The activity of these armed anti-Muslim demonstrators comes at a time when anti-Muslim hate crimes are on the rise and people are seeking to capitalize anti-Muslim fearmongering.
As gun violence and bigotry sweep across the country, we must do everything we can to prevent further tragedy and discrimination.
That’s what we’re afraid of: 38 elected representatives misinterpreting the First Amendment and promising to “do everything we can” to prevent gun violence that didn’t occur at the Global Rally for Humanity protests.
The anti-Muslim, open-carry rally in Dearborn today, small and mostly friendly. pic.twitter.com/ynFANL76lA
— Leah Shannon (@leehaha62) October 10, 2015
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