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Anti-Sharia Law Protests Take Place Near San Bernardino Terrorist Attack Site
The memorial at the location of the San Bernardino mass shooting in 2015. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
As part of a nation-wide series of protests organized by ACT For America, a "national security grassroots organization" deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a group is rallying and marching against Sharia law today at the site of the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting. The march and rally will take place until 2 p.m.
The organizers behind the rally in San Bernardino explain their point of view on their Facebook event, writing, "Sharia is incompaitble [sic] with our Constitution and with American values. We stand against female genital mutilations and child marriages." The official ACT For America statement on the national rallies explains how "Our nation is built on the freedom of religion -- a pillar of our democracy -- which we must always respect, protect, and honor," adding, "However many aspects of Sharia law run contrary to basic human rights and are completely incompatible with our laws and our democratic values." ACT For America was founded by Brigitte Gabriel in 2007, a prominent anti-Muslim and anti-Islam speaker who has expressed sentiments like how a "practicing Muslim, who believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen of the United States," according to the SPLC.
ACT member Denise Zamora told CBS "People are saying we’re against Muslims. No, Muslims are attacking other Muslims, and we’re bringing in these refugees that have the same ideologies.” She claims the protest is not anti-Muslim.
ACT For America had to cancel its Arkansas rally after SPLC reported the local organizer was neo-Nazi Billy Roper.
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