Mosque supporters rally in Staten Island (video)

There was a rally in Midland Beach today where advocates for the proposed mosque came out to show their support.

The event was planned before the recent vote, where the sale of an empty convent to the Muslim American Society was nixed by the church board.

But the organizers said they wanted to come out anyway to show their support and rally against hatred and bigotry.

Detractors of the mosque have claimed that the organization is a front group for terrorists.

Only about 30 pro-mosque protesters showed up to the event, but it was a brave effort after weeks of being maligned by locals during their weekly Sunday events.

A few anti-mosque residents mingled across the street, some holding signs, others yelling "go home" then walking away - presumably to their homes.

Where's the Beep? New Web site will help combat hate crime

What's the old adage about sun and disinfectant...

Local officials and activists have taken a step in combating the recent rise in hate crimes on Staten Island by creating a new web page called I AM Staten Island.

Apparently the effort does not have the support of Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro.

The campaign, endorsed by North Shore Councilwoman Debi Rose and Speaker Christine Quinn, is the first step in a coordinated effort among disparate groups to help assuage the bigotry running rampant throughout the forgotten borough.

The site lists community organizations and public officials backing the initiative. But no Oswald Copperpot.

"Something very serious is happening on the Island," the site reads, "and it is going to take a comprehensive response from the entire Staten Island community to address this challenge."

Speaker Quinn said the site "provides us with another critical tool for spreading the message that we will not tolerate these attacks."

We realize that the Borough President may be too busy bashing the Mexican President to take the time and support this effort, but we hope he will come around and give it the attention it deserves.

Muslims organize: refuse to be slandered

Thanks to the good people over at NextLeftNotes we have a report, statement, and possibly a new front in the war against blind discrimination on SI.

There have been a number of protests in support of the Muslim population on Staten Island, who have been slandered and abused by the local dingbats who somehow think anyone that doesn't look like them is 'foreign' and therefore evil.

The Advance is reporting that this group will form a Islamic civic association on Staten Island, which is welcome and will hopefully open some dialogue and create a better understanding among the different groups on SI.

Here is the full statement from Hesham El-Meligy of the Arab Muslim American Federation, again provided by NLN: