Anti-Muslim bigots like to say that their bigotry isn't racism, since "Muslim" isn't a race. But the facts are contrary to the argument. For example, a scene from the anti-Cordoba House protest in Manhattan:
Golly, sure looks like anti-Arab racism to me. That's just one example of the ugliness Kelly found. On a surprise scale of 1 to 10, put me in negative territory.
Mike Kelly, The Record (New Jersey):At one point, a portion of the crowd menacingly surrounded two Egyptian men who were speaking Arabic and were thought to be Muslims.
"Go home," several shouted from the crowd.
"Get out," others shouted.
In fact, the two men – Joseph Nassralla and Karam El Masry — were not Muslims at all. They turned out to be Egyptian Coptic Christians who work for a California-based Christian satellite TV station called "The Way." Both said they had come to protest the mosque.
"I'm a Christian," Nassralla shouted to the crowd, his eyes bulging and beads of sweat rolling down his face.
But it was no use. The protesters had become so angry at what they thought were Muslims that New York City police officers had to rush in and pull Nassralla and El Masry to safety.
Golly, sure looks like anti-Arab racism to me. That's just one example of the ugliness Kelly found. On a surprise scale of 1 to 10, put me in negative territory.
