Staten Island Group Holds Rally Against Proposed Islamic Center

By: Roger Clark

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Dozens of people gathered on Staten Island Sunday to speak out against the proposed mosque and Islamic center in Lower Manhattan.

The rally was held in Concord, across from a New York City Fire Department rescue company that lost 11 members during the September 11th attacks.

"This is a matter of sensitivity for the families that did lose loved ones, and if they really want to show support for the families, then they will move it,” said Staten Islander John Graziano, who lost seven of his fellow firefighters from Brooklyn's ladder company 132, where he was a lieutenant.

"It can't be built there, it just can't,” said Terry Tichio, who lost a friend in the attacks. “And I'll do everything in my power to stop it."

Several Republican lawmakers attended the event, telling the crowd constructing a mosque and cultural center so close to the former World Trade Center site is disrespectful to those who lost loved ones in the attacks.

"Sensitivity goes both ways. Yes we have to be sensitive to other people's religions, but also those religions have to be sensitive to the memory of the people who died on September 11th," said Long Island Congressman Peter King.

"We are not saying you cannot build a mosque at Ground Zero. We are saying you should not build a mosque at Ground Zero," said State Senator Andrew Lanza.

Supporters of the mosque say the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the tradition of cultural and religious tolerance is one of America's greatest strengths.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino also attended the rally and defended comments he made upstate that seemed to diss three of New York City's five boroughs.

Paladino praised Staten Island and Queens as being similar to communities upstate, then critiqued Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx for being hard to get around and lacking Republicans.

"Why would I ever look to say something bad about New York City? I love New York City. I'm here now. I've been here half of the campaign," Paladino said. "Yes, I'm talking about travel. It is impossible to travel around in those inner boroughs there. It's very difficult."

Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn are home to 30 percent of New York State's population.

Paladino will take on Rick Lazio in the Republican primary on September 15.