Rival prayers, yells, tensions over proposed US mosque
Rival Muslim and Christian prayers, incendiary accusations
and angry yells: deep-seated tensions over plans for the first dedicated mosque in just one US town were laid bare in one extraordinary, six-hour meeting.
It ended shortly before midnight Monday when the zoning board failed to approve plans to turn a disused industrial site on a quiet residential street into an Islamic center in Bayonne, New Jersey a 45-minute drive from New York.
Earlier that day President Donald Trump signed a revised travel ban on refugees and travelers from six Muslim-majority countries, compounding a growing sense among some American Muslims that they are under siege.
and over again, largely white, often older residents raised the same complaints. It would be too noisy. The narrow street would be too congested. What about parking? Who would enforce the maximum capacity of 135 people at any one event?
That the Muslim community had sought to meet concerns by reducing the proposed capacity, scrapping a bimonthly family event and splitting Friday prayers into two sessions to keep down traffic only appeared to arouse more suspicion.
“It’s just not a good fit,” was the phrase heard again and again.
For months, a string of public meetings have sparked record turnout, replete with insults, anger and hostility have left some feeling discriminated against and unwelcome.
Tensions were palpable even before Monday’s meeting was called to order in a high school auditorium. While Muslim men stood to one side quietly praying, a group of residents loudly recited the Lord’s Prayer.
“Can you get these cell phones out of my face please,” snapped one woman as a member of the audience tried to take pictures- punch.ng
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