| Santa Ana, Calif. – March 8, 2011 – Orange County Young Democrats is denouncing the violent verbal attack of Muslim families at a February 13th fundraiser held by the Islamic Circle of North America Relief. Anti-Islamic stereotyping, attacks on children, and a propensity for violence are some of the grievances raised by OCYD. A video posted to Youtube by C.A.I.R., the Center for American-Islamic Relations, shows citizens and elected officials protesting the event broadly stereotyping Muslims as terrorists. This generalization is completely false, can lead to violence towards Muslims and needs to be stopped immediately.
Anger and verbal violence were also visible at the protest. After a series of anti-Islamic statements by Rep. Gary Miller (R 42), Rep. Ed Royce (R 40), and Villa Park City Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, the protest manifested itself into abusive verbal attacks on US citizens, women, even children who are clearly not affiliated with any type of terrorism. Nick Anas, Chair of OCYD states, “There is no separating our elected officials’ participation in this rally and the ensuing violent verbal attacks on families and children. These officials should denounce intolerance and violence, not encourage it.”  Today, it has been exactly two months since the shooting of Rep.Gabrielle Giffords. In that context, OCYD is asking our Orange County community and it’s elected officials to immediately stop using violent rhetoric in our public discourse. We cannot ignore the fact that this type of hate speech can be the catalyst for instable individuals to commit violent actions. Thursday OCYD will host a public meeting with Adel Syed, Civil Rights Coordinator at the Council on American-Islamic Relations to discuss these events. (400 West 4th street, Santa Ana 7pm) OCYD is also organizing a rally with local colleges to bring attention to this issue. The first planning meeting for the rally will be held Wednesday at Chapman University. Video of the protest has been removed from Youtube, however is still available at OCYD’s Facebook. |
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| Orange County Young Democrats represents young families, workers, college and high school students ages 14 to 35.  OCYD takes action in our communities for local, statewide and national efforts to build the Democratic Party. # # # |
You had me until you tried to connect muslim hate speech and stereotyping with the Giffords shooting. There is nothing hate related in a nutcase shooting a politician (who just happens to believe in 2nd Amendment rights). He was a psycho who came after “the man”. What does that have to do with hate speeches against muslims or any class of people. From this we see one of the underlying philosophies of the OCYD. And, it has more to do with politically eliminating citizens rights.
OCYD respects peoples rights to speak any kind of hateful words they wish. We, however will clearly communicate that our party -and more broadly our entire young generation- does not quietly tolerate hate and moreover will not let verbal abuse towards children go unchecked. You have the right to defend hate speech, we have the right to speak out against it.
We are not advocating eliminating citizen’s rights in any way. In fact, we are not even discussing the legality of these protestors being present. People have the legal right to think and say whatever they want. What OCYD is trying to express, is that this type of rhetoric is dangerous in any situation. Elected officials should be leading the public discussion, and should be holding themselves up as examples. It is for this reason, that they should not be engaging in any sort of violent public discourse. As an organization that represents the youth branch of the Democratic party in Orange County, we are simply calling upon our own elected officials to lead their people with a little more dignity.
OCYD respects peoples’ right to speak any kind of hate they wish. I think their just exercising their right to point out blatant bigotry.
The simple truth is that young people of Orange County do not tolerate Hate. We are a diverse group of young people. When we see hate we will speak up against it.
These elected officials are shooting themselves in the foot associating with this.
Good thing it’s all on video!
OCYDs – You are using a pirated and copyrighted video on your Facebook page. George Collins, the owner of the video, has not given you permission to use or distribute that video.
This falls under the fair-use doctrine of copyright law and is indeed legal if being used to spread awareness rather than reap comercial gain, which it certainly appears OCYD is using it for.
Is it “fair use†for CAIR to steal this copyrighted video footage for fundraising?
Is it “fair use†for the Daily Show to show this stolen copyrighted video footage for commercial gain purposes?
Sorry if this a repeat. My computer got stuck
Most of the people who went to the peaceful rally did not go to protest against moderate Muslims hosting a fundraiser.
Most people went to rally against the radical ideology of the keynote speakers.
I have no problem with you denouncing the anti-Muslim bigot in the video that CAIR released (though I do question why they did not include the keynote speakers names in their press release and on the video). There is no justification to yell at kids and chant go back home. But realize that was a splinter group from the main protest.
I don’t agree with commments of the politicians in the clips.
But I’d like to see more people see the main reason the rally drew so many people to the event.
Here are some clips of speeches of one the keynote speakers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is29KAIHXfA
Why was Malik Ali invited to speak?
I hope you look more into him and will denounce him too.
He openly supports Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. All three groups are recognized by the US State Dept as terrorist organizations. During his lectures, he spreads Zionist Jew conspiracy stories such as Zionist Jews were reponsible for 911 and the Danish cartoon controversy. He glorifies suicide bombers and much more.
JK thanks for mentioned the facts!. The protest was AGAISNST THE KEY NOTE SPEAKERS in the foundrising Event!. Please Liberal OC refer to the facts that this Speakers are well known haters of America and how we Live in the WESTERN CIVILIZATION!.
The CAIR filmmakers stole video footage of a separate peaceful rally and spliced it together with an obscene protest in order to portray the peaceful rally in a dishonest manner.
That is propaganda – pure and simple.
The fundraiser organizers should have called the police and had the protest shut down. I will bet you $100 that there was no permit for that protest. Hell the police dept. should have shut it down. There should be an investigation – something stinks here.
Its not propoganda, its a viral video… they happen every day. Long story short, hate is unacceptable.