While a high-profile battle rages over a mosque near ground zero in Manhattan, heated confrontations have also broken out in communities across the country where mosques are proposed for far less hallowed locations.
In Murfreesboro, Tenn., Republican candidates have denounced plans for a large Muslim center proposed near a subdivision, and hundreds of protesters have turned out for a march and a county meeting.
In late June, in Temecula, Calif., members of a local Tea Party group took dogs and picket signs to Friday prayers at a mosque that is seeking to build a new worship center on a vacant lot nearby.
I believe there’s such a thing as insidious invasion of society and ultimate attempts at conversion to Sharia Law involved here, and that’s what most people are concerned about. We have a few Muslims in our town, but they’re not interested in establishing a mosque here, although there is one in Merced, I believe. We’ve not heard of any interest in establishing one here in Los Banos, though. I see nothing wrong in establishing a worship center, but I DO see plenty wrong with what so often follows as a result.