Can't believe I had to use HuffPo, but the story is here:
New York Muslims Rally To Protest NYPD Surveillance Program.
Muslims are peacefully protesting the NYPD surveillance programs of mosques, middle eastern establishments such as stores and restaurants, and the profiling of ME cab drivers. I do not know how much of their message I support or do not because I don't know where the line between public safety and privacy needs to be drawn these days as I do not know what tactics the officers are truly using nor do I want to try to make an opinion. What I think is that this is a good discussion about where privacy ends and where profiling is necessary in this particular leg in the fight against terrorist tactics.
Most of these people protesting IMO are innocent of anything but I wanted to share this story because this protest has things that the OWS protesters do not:
1) A clear message- The only complaint is that these people want to be left alone as much as possible, they have said "respect us and we will respect you", they have said they are equally Muslim and American. I can respect this.
2) They have obeyed all laws, engaged in true peaceful assembly and free speech. No laws were broken, and they did not overstay their welcome.
3) No Violence, none whatsoever. They chanted a little, they prayed, they let their feelings be known. And they moved on.
So to summarize. I don't know how much I disagree or agree with these particular protesters but I do support their right to protest in this fashion. Imagine that, they used very American values and tactics in an orderly fashion to opine on what they feel is an injustice and I hope that the issue is resolved in a mutually agreeable fashion.
Take note OWS, THIS is how you protest if you choose to do so.