The New York Times recently profiled David Yerushalmi, “The Man Behind the Anti-Shariah Movement,” whose efforts have several Florida ties. For one thing, he’s a South Florida native, according to the article. For another, he was the driving force behind an anti-Sharia law that surfaced in Florida and other states.
According to recent reports, Rep. Allen West, R-Fort Lauderdale, has again aligned himself with a controversial group. As reported yesterday by blogger Spencer Ackerman, West will sponsor a July 25 briefing by Citizens for National Security, a self-described group of “concerned citizens interested in education on extremism, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.”
The Jacksonville chapter of the controversial group ACT! for America is accusing a local school of ties to terrorism in a new press release, linking the school to an FBI investigation through a media report that, contrary to ACT!’s claims, indicates any actions the FBI is conducting has nothing to do with terrorism.
State Rep. Larry Metz, R-Eustis, has filed an “Application of Foreign Law” bill that accompanies similar legislation put forward by state Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla. Right-wing organizations have dubbed Hays’ bill an “anti-Shariah” act.
Responding to news that state Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, has filed what one right-wing organization is dubbing an “anti-Shariah” law, Nezar Hamze, executive director of the South Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tells The Florida Independent that Hays’ bill could impact believers in all faiths and that its filing shows Hays is “disconnected” from his constituents and Florida’s “real problems.”
State Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, last month filed an “Application of Foreign Law” bill for the legislative session that begins next Tues., March 8. According to a right-wing blog, the law is an attempt to “stop the spread of Sharia in Florida.”
Jacksonville mayoral candidate Mike Hogan received a unanimous endorsement from the First Coast Tea Party yesterday, despite joking that bombing an abortion clinic “might cross [his] mind” during a candidate forum at a Catholic church in Jacksonville last week.
U.S. Rep. Allen West, R- Fort Lauderdale, never one to shy away from controversy, appears to be coordinating with a highly controversial anti-Muslim group, judging by a recent article West posted online. The piece, which West wrote for Chip Hanlon’s conservative blog Red State, detailed “a meeting with the incredible Brigitte Gabriel, President and CEO of ACT! for America,” whom the New York Times once described as a “radical Islamaphobe.”
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In response to “Proponent of Arizona-style immigration law to chair Judiciary Committee”:
The Florida Times-Union ran a piece this morning on a Jacksonville group’s renewed call to oust a Muslim man from the city’s Human Rights Commission, and now a man associated with that group is speaking out.
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