The Interfaith Center of New York joins New Yorkers of all faith backgrounds in condemning Sunday night’s attack on the “Jihad Watch Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest” in Garland, Texas — and in condemning the ongoing wave of hate speech directed at American Muslims by Islamophobic fringe organizations including Pamela Geller’s so-called “American Freedom Defense Initiative.”
We mourn the loss of life in Garland, categorically reject all forms of violent extremism, and applaud the brave actions of law enforcement officials who prevented what could have been a far more devastating attack. At the same time, however, we call upon Pamela Geller and her colleagues to use their fundamental First Amendment rights in more responsible and respectful ways. Ms. Geller’s Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest in Texas and incendiary subway ads in New York may be legal but they are not moral. Like Pastor Terry Jones, whose decision to burn the Holy Qur’an contributed to the loss of more than a dozen lives in Afghanistan including United Nations Staff, Geller has, unfortunately, used her right to free expression to create the conditions in which violent extremism is likely to thrive. As we work to build a more inclusive society for all Americans, we hope that Pamela Geller and her colleagues will cease sowing fear and hatred of Islam and Muslim communities.
