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"THE GREAT GAZOO"
I used to live in this town, its from the local newspaper.....
Muslims to stage peace rally tonight
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Friday, July 22, 2005.
By JANA M. TREECE
Valley Press Religion Editor
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PALMDALE - As four more terrorist bomb blasts rocked London's mass transit system Thursday, Antelope Valley Muslims were preparing to mobilize to condemn such acts in a showing of solidarity, unity and peace.
Muslims from across the Valley will gather tonight to voice condemnation of the terrorist bombings and to show in spirit and body that these atrocities are not Islam.
Chaplain Abdul-Wahab Omeira, board member of the Islamic Center of the North Valley in Lancaster, has organized a peace rally from 6 to 10 p.m. today , at the former Kmart building at 10th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P).
The July 7 terrorist attacks, staged by suicide bombers in London, killed more than 50 and injured more than 700 others. Thursday's bombings, for which no group had claimed responsibility as of late in the day, injured one person.
Omeira, along with Kamal al-Khatib, leader of the American Islamic Institute of the Antelope Valley, are calling on not only the Muslim community, but residents of all faiths, to turn out in force to condemn terrorist acts that are being falsely proclaimed as acts of Islam.
"We need to proclaim that what happened in London is murder; it is not Muslim," Omeira said. "We need to show our community this is not us."
"Everyone thinks this is a great idea," al-Khatib said of the rally. "We are trying to send a message to the world that these terrorists are hurting Muslims, not only here, but around the world. This is not Islam."
The rally, which has no formal structure or keynote speakers, will include a candlelight vigil for the people who were "murdered" in the London bombings, Omeira said.
Omeira said the Muslim community must fight back by not just speaking out in newspapers, on television and on radio but by showing their faces en masse.
"We can no longer stay asleep," he said. "These people do not belong to any faith; they have no religion; this is not Islam."
Al-Khatib echoed the same sentiment, saying that these infidels must stop committing murder in the name of Islam. "Don't do it in our name, do it in your name," he proclaimed.
Dignitaries from across the Valley have been invited to join members of the community's two mosques, including members of the Antelope Valley Interfaith Council and members of the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force, which strives to stamp out hate crime and prejudice in the high desert.
Omeira also has contacted widespread news media from CNN to the BBC in hopes of gaining worldwide attention that Muslim communities, not only in the Valley, but across the country, can no longer stand silent. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is also expected to attend.
"I would like to send a message to the Muslim world, not just Muslims in America," Omeira said. "We need to protect our faith. It is appalling for someone to go out and kill someone in my name."
Omeira believes that much of the silence in the Muslim community about these terrorist acts is due to shock, and the fact that Muslim people come from cultures and countries where governments forbid them to protest or speak out.
He said the time has come for Muslims living in America to know and understand that being able to speak out and rally are freedoms they now enjoy.
Attendees are expected to carry signs as well as American and British flags.
"We need to show our heartfelt sorrow for the families of those murdered," Omeira said.
Muslims to stage peace rally tonight
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Friday, July 22, 2005.
By JANA M. TREECE
Valley Press Religion Editor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PALMDALE - As four more terrorist bomb blasts rocked London's mass transit system Thursday, Antelope Valley Muslims were preparing to mobilize to condemn such acts in a showing of solidarity, unity and peace.
Muslims from across the Valley will gather tonight to voice condemnation of the terrorist bombings and to show in spirit and body that these atrocities are not Islam.
Chaplain Abdul-Wahab Omeira, board member of the Islamic Center of the North Valley in Lancaster, has organized a peace rally from 6 to 10 p.m. today , at the former Kmart building at 10th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P).
The July 7 terrorist attacks, staged by suicide bombers in London, killed more than 50 and injured more than 700 others. Thursday's bombings, for which no group had claimed responsibility as of late in the day, injured one person.
Omeira, along with Kamal al-Khatib, leader of the American Islamic Institute of the Antelope Valley, are calling on not only the Muslim community, but residents of all faiths, to turn out in force to condemn terrorist acts that are being falsely proclaimed as acts of Islam.
"We need to proclaim that what happened in London is murder; it is not Muslim," Omeira said. "We need to show our community this is not us."
"Everyone thinks this is a great idea," al-Khatib said of the rally. "We are trying to send a message to the world that these terrorists are hurting Muslims, not only here, but around the world. This is not Islam."
The rally, which has no formal structure or keynote speakers, will include a candlelight vigil for the people who were "murdered" in the London bombings, Omeira said.
Omeira said the Muslim community must fight back by not just speaking out in newspapers, on television and on radio but by showing their faces en masse.
"We can no longer stay asleep," he said. "These people do not belong to any faith; they have no religion; this is not Islam."
Al-Khatib echoed the same sentiment, saying that these infidels must stop committing murder in the name of Islam. "Don't do it in our name, do it in your name," he proclaimed.
Dignitaries from across the Valley have been invited to join members of the community's two mosques, including members of the Antelope Valley Interfaith Council and members of the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force, which strives to stamp out hate crime and prejudice in the high desert.
Omeira also has contacted widespread news media from CNN to the BBC in hopes of gaining worldwide attention that Muslim communities, not only in the Valley, but across the country, can no longer stand silent. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is also expected to attend.
"I would like to send a message to the Muslim world, not just Muslims in America," Omeira said. "We need to protect our faith. It is appalling for someone to go out and kill someone in my name."
Omeira believes that much of the silence in the Muslim community about these terrorist acts is due to shock, and the fact that Muslim people come from cultures and countries where governments forbid them to protest or speak out.
He said the time has come for Muslims living in America to know and understand that being able to speak out and rally are freedoms they now enjoy.
Attendees are expected to carry signs as well as American and British flags.
"We need to show our heartfelt sorrow for the families of those murdered," Omeira said.
