"Million Muslim March" Attendees Confronted by Christian Protesters on National Mall
Attendees at the Million American March Against Fear -- previously called the Million Muslim March -- were met with protests by a small group of Christians on the National Mall Wednesday
Thursday, Sep 12, 2013 | Updated 12:08 PM EDT
Attendees at a sparsely attended Million American March Against Fear were met with protests by a small group of Christians on the National Mall Wednesday, on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
U.S. Park Police kept the group of protesters back. Several displayed signs with messages such as "Muhammad is a liar" and were yelling to the Muslim attendees, reported News4's Mark Segraves.
About 25 people -- including activist Cornel West -- were at the march as of 12:30 p.m., Segraves reported.
The event was known as the Million Muslim March during planning stages, but organizers said on their website they thought the earlier name was "scary."
Approximately 20 protesters were also at the scene, Segraves said. It was not clear whether they were from a specific church or organization.
The rally included prayers, speeches and a moment of silence to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The rally was planned by the American Muslim Political Action Committee (AMPAC), whose members say they are "patriotic Muslims" who are demanding new laws to protect their First Amendment rights.
"In the past 12 years since 9/11 the United States government as failed to protect and promote Constitutional liberties and human life, here and abroad," read part of a statement on AMPAC's website. "We feel that accountability in government has been ignored and the time has arrived to collectively speak truth to power."
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