Philadelphians, Including Councilmembers, Object To DC Hearing On Muslim Radicalization
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Several members of Philadelphia City Council and the Muslim and Jewish communities spoke out today at City Hall against the hearings in Washington, DC on the radicalization of the Muslim community (see related stories).
"As-salaam alaikum," Councilman Jim Kenney (at lectern) said today in Arabic as he greeted those attending. He was among those speaking on the floor of City Council and in the hallway about what he says is clearly an attack on the Muslim community.
"This is a diverse country. It was founded on diversity. And I think that when folks like (Congressman) Peter King -- and in the past, Joseph McCarthy -- have tried to scapegoat folks and create ugliness and anger and hatred, it is wrong then and it's wrong now. And we're going to stand up and say it when it's wrong."
Marwan Kreidie (second from left), of the Philadelphia Arab-American Development Corp., says the way Muslim-Americans are being treated is frightening.
"A lot of people are out there are scapegoating and ostracizing the Muslim-American community," he said. "It's just wrong, and this is not the way that we improve security and this is not the way we run our country."
Council adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez and Councilman Curtis Jones, rejecting the hearings by King.
Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio 1060.
