NYC mayor blows off request for permission to speak
Bloomberg doesn't respond to letter seeking 1st Amendment equity for Christians, Jews
Posted: September 10, 2011
9:35 pm Eastern By Bob Unruh
© 2011 WND
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, on the weekend that the nation
marks the 10th anniversary of the Islamic terrorist attacks on
Washington and New York, has declined to respond to a written demand for
Christian and Jewish clergy to be represented at the city's memorial
for the nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks.
"No response from the mayor," attorney Larry Klayman, who founded Judicial Watch and now is of FreedomWatch, told WND.
"No surprise. He thinks he is above the law and has little to no respect for our Judeo-Christian heritage, let alone people of true faith, as opposed to those who practice Islam and Shariah law. It's likely the mayor is bowing down to Muslims given his business interests in the Arab world. One can also assume he is working with the Obama administration and that President Obama himself had a hand to play in this latest affront to Christians and Jews and the families of 9/11 victims."
Klayman noted that Bloomberg originally had invited the controversial imam Feisal Rauf, who is connected to the planned Ground Zero mosque in New York, to the event, but was forced to cancel because of negative reaction. Bloomberg then disinvited all clergy, Klayman said.
In a letter to the mayor early Friday, Klayman explained his plan to seek legal redress should the mayor decline to respond appropriately.
Wrote Klayman to Bloomberg: "You have banned Christian and Jewish
clergy from speaking and participating in prayer at the Sept. 11, 2011,
memorial ceremony on the 10th anniversary of this tragic event.
Importantly, this occurred only after you invited imam Feisal Rauf of
the Ground Zero Mosque, which you support, to speak at the event. Your
invitation caused a huge controversy and you had to withdraw it. Your
actions in excluding Christian and Jewish clergy, but inviting a Muslim
imam, and in particular imam Feisal Rauf, amount to religious
discrimination under color of state law, as well as an abridgement of
the right to free speech, among other causes of action."
Klayman said his clients are clergy "who have spoken and participated each year at the annual commemoration of Sept. 11, 2011, sponsored and paid for in large part by the City of New York."
His request was for a reversal of the ban and the permission for his clients to participate.
Bloomberg's action has stirred up reaction all around the country. Some 62,000 Americans signed petitions assembled by the Family Research Council asking him to relent. Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice wrote that the United States "has a long and cherished history of prayer, from the first prayer in Congress in 1774 to the National Day of Prayer celebrated each year. Even the Supreme Court acknowledges our religious heritage."
Click here for the full story! (may need to disable pop-up blocker)
"No response from the mayor," attorney Larry Klayman, who founded Judicial Watch and now is of FreedomWatch, told WND.
"No surprise. He thinks he is above the law and has little to no respect for our Judeo-Christian heritage, let alone people of true faith, as opposed to those who practice Islam and Shariah law. It's likely the mayor is bowing down to Muslims given his business interests in the Arab world. One can also assume he is working with the Obama administration and that President Obama himself had a hand to play in this latest affront to Christians and Jews and the families of 9/11 victims."
Klayman noted that Bloomberg originally had invited the controversial imam Feisal Rauf, who is connected to the planned Ground Zero mosque in New York, to the event, but was forced to cancel because of negative reaction. Bloomberg then disinvited all clergy, Klayman said.
In a letter to the mayor early Friday, Klayman explained his plan to seek legal redress should the mayor decline to respond appropriately.
Klayman said his clients are clergy "who have spoken and participated each year at the annual commemoration of Sept. 11, 2011, sponsored and paid for in large part by the City of New York."
His request was for a reversal of the ban and the permission for his clients to participate.
Bloomberg's action has stirred up reaction all around the country. Some 62,000 Americans signed petitions assembled by the Family Research Council asking him to relent. Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice wrote that the United States "has a long and cherished history of prayer, from the first prayer in Congress in 1774 to the National Day of Prayer celebrated each year. Even the Supreme Court acknowledges our religious heritage."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment