Phoenix
11th September 2010, 02:48 AM
http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/09/09/news/18local_09-09-10.txt
Protester plans to burn Quran on Capitol steps
By Becky Orr
borr@wyomingnews.com
CHEYENNE -- The founder of the Wyoming Tyranny Response Team plans to burn a copy of the Quran on the steps of the State Capitol on Saturday.
Duncan Philp said he will protest the location of a proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York City. He also will protest President Barack Obama's support for the location.
"I feel Obama is being disingenuous when he pretends he supports religious liberties," Philp said. "(The Muslims) are not building that mosque out of love for my culture or love of the victims of 9-11 but for political reasons."
Meanwhile, members of Unitarian Universalist Church also plan to walk from their church to the Capitol on Saturday.
They will gather in response to a Florida pastor who plans to burn more than 200 copies of the Quran, said the Rev. Dana Lightsey of the church.
Their participation is part of a nationwide effort called "Standing on the Side of Love with our Muslim Brothers and Sisters."
Church members will speak about the "importance of tolerance and caring for our brothers and sisters of all different faiths," Lightsey said.
Philp said at least one more person plans to burn a copy of the Quran. His protest is set from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with the burning planned at noon.
Philp of Carpenter said he has nothing against Muslims but that the location shows a lack of respect for people who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
The response team is a street protest group made up of defenders of the Bill of Rights, he said.
He has a permit from the state. In obtaining it, he said he indicated he was planning a 9-11 event but did not specify details.
Philp will tell Wyoming Highway Patrol officers stationed at the Capitol of his plans. If there is a policy against burning, he plans to rip up the copy and throw it in a garbage can. The burning would move to a private business.
Church members said they did not know about Philp's plans when they set up their event. They found out from a reporter on Wednesday, Lightsey said.
They will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, 3005 Thomes.
If the two groups cross paths, "maybe we'll take them to lunch or something," said Mohammed Salih. He is a Cheyenne Muslim who will join in the Unitarians' event.
Reporter Baylie Evans contributed to this report.
Protester plans to burn Quran on Capitol steps
By Becky Orr
borr@wyomingnews.com
CHEYENNE -- The founder of the Wyoming Tyranny Response Team plans to burn a copy of the Quran on the steps of the State Capitol on Saturday.
Duncan Philp said he will protest the location of a proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York City. He also will protest President Barack Obama's support for the location.
"I feel Obama is being disingenuous when he pretends he supports religious liberties," Philp said. "(The Muslims) are not building that mosque out of love for my culture or love of the victims of 9-11 but for political reasons."
Meanwhile, members of Unitarian Universalist Church also plan to walk from their church to the Capitol on Saturday.
They will gather in response to a Florida pastor who plans to burn more than 200 copies of the Quran, said the Rev. Dana Lightsey of the church.
Their participation is part of a nationwide effort called "Standing on the Side of Love with our Muslim Brothers and Sisters."
Church members will speak about the "importance of tolerance and caring for our brothers and sisters of all different faiths," Lightsey said.
Philp said at least one more person plans to burn a copy of the Quran. His protest is set from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with the burning planned at noon.
Philp of Carpenter said he has nothing against Muslims but that the location shows a lack of respect for people who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
The response team is a street protest group made up of defenders of the Bill of Rights, he said.
He has a permit from the state. In obtaining it, he said he indicated he was planning a 9-11 event but did not specify details.
Philp will tell Wyoming Highway Patrol officers stationed at the Capitol of his plans. If there is a policy against burning, he plans to rip up the copy and throw it in a garbage can. The burning would move to a private business.
Church members said they did not know about Philp's plans when they set up their event. They found out from a reporter on Wednesday, Lightsey said.
They will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, 3005 Thomes.
If the two groups cross paths, "maybe we'll take them to lunch or something," said Mohammed Salih. He is a Cheyenne Muslim who will join in the Unitarians' event.
Reporter Baylie Evans contributed to this report.