Richard Yeakley has been on Capitol Hill, talking with the crowds outside the House Homeland Security Committee as Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., holds hearings on Islamic extremism.
Here’s what people are saying:
“He [King] is clearly misinformed and has no desire to be informed.”
_ D.C. native Virginia Spatz
“What King is claiming is that we should know all the criminals in our faith. That would be like me asking a Christian: Which Christians are criminals?”
_ Galen Muhammad, a D.C. native and second of two protestors near the Cannon House Office Building
“The issue of radicalization is an important issue to question but if King wanted the truth, he would have gone about it in a different way.”
_ Khaled Saffuri, a Muslim-American
“I am here because I am opposed to the framing the debate has taken. It is not likely to be beneficial.”
_ Raha Wala, an employee of Human Rights First waiting in line to enter the hearing.
“We need to view mosques and devout imams as representatives of a foreign power that is committed to our demise… I am just hear to listen and see if the right questions are asked.”
_ Anti-abortion activist Randall Terry waiting in line to enter the hearing and handing out free copies of his film “What Would Muhammad Do” to passers-by.“
My wife and I are here to support Rep. King. In truth this hearing should’ve been held before this…. We as Americans are at a war with Islam.”
– Franklin Raddish, 57, waited in line for one hour and 15 minutes to enter the hearing and show support for King. Raddish, a pastor from Greenville, S.C., has been leading a Bible study at the Capitol weekly for eight years.
“There is no doubt radicalization is on the rise. It is the the goal to bring all people back to mainstream.”
Anam Ullah, 26, traveled into D.C. and waited in line two hours to “hear the tone” of the hearing.