John R. Houk
© May 4, 2012
Could you imagine a public event extolling the United States Constitution being shut down because a particular minority religion is offended by the fundamental rights inherent in the Constitution?
That is what happened in Allegan, MI. The Executive Director for Council on American-Islamic Relations – Michigan (CAIR-MI) complained about a group promoting American Laws for American Courts (ALAC) in a Public School led to the intimidation of school officials. The school had entered into a legal contract for the event to take place. The notified the Allegan Police Department about the intimidating letter from CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. The Allegan Police then took it upon themselves to make up a conspiracy that threatened one of the key speakers with violence. After which the police shut down the event already in progress.
Here is the thing. There was no threat of physical violence. There was only the letter from Dawud Walid from an organization dubiously noted to be litigious to get their way by costing the other side tons of money.
It can’t proven (yet), but there is the appearance that law enforcement in Michigan in general has done its fair share of looking the other way concerning Radical Islamic activities. For example CAIR was named as an unindicted co-defendant in the Holy Land Foundation trial that led to convictions for funneling money to the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas.
The Allegan police’s solution to a physical threat – which was non-existent – was to shut down the event rather than to protect FREE SPEECH guaranteed by the Constitution’s First Amendment because a terrorist linked organization like CAIR complained about a group that was rallying support to defend the Constitution from foreign law being an influence in Michigan State Courts.
Well for once CAIR is on the other end of a lawsuit. The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) is representing the group’s sponsor in suing CAIR, the school and the Allegan Police Department.
GO TMLC!
Below is the ACT for America email that alerted me to this squelching of Free Speech at the behest of a Radical Islamic organization in America. The email begins with a promotional for the ACT for America National Convention which I am including being the fan of ACT that I am. The important information though is after the promotion of a news alert sent by TMLC that has greater detail than I just attempted to relay.
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Lawsuit filed against CAIR-Michigan
Sent by ACT for America
Sent: 5/4/2012 1:06 PM
Last week the Thomas More Law Center, a powerful force for good against the threat of radical Islam, announced it had filed a civil rights lawsuit against CAIR-Michigan and others. According to a Thomas More Law Center news release (see below, highlights added), an event promoting “American Laws for American Courts” (ALAC) legislation was shut down after complaints by CAIR-Michigan:
ANN ARBOR, MI – In the middle of an event to extol the virtues of the U.S. Constitution and “American Laws For American Courts,” the audience learned first-hand how easy it is to lose their freedom of Speech and Assembly.
Amid shouts of “What about free speech?” from the audience, the Allegan Police Department ordered the event shut-down.
Amid shouts of “What about free speech?” from the audience, the Allegan Police Department ordered the event shut-down.
This assault on free speech is shocking. One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit is Beth Griffin, an energetic, hard-working long-time ACT! for America chapter leader. (To illustrate, Beth was active in the successful effort to stop Obama administration plans to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Standish, Michigan).
People sometimes ask us, “if I already know a lot about radical Islam, should I still attend the ACT! for America National Conference?”
People sometimes ask us, “if I already know a lot about radical Islam, should I still attend the ACT! for America National Conference?”
· If you want to meet people like Beth Griffin and find out what makes them successful…
· If you want to find out more about issues like UN Resolution 16/18, and what Members of Congress plan on doing about it…
· If you want to see what we’re doing behind the scenes to win passage of ALAC legislation, and why it’s so important…
· If you want to be encouraged by stories of what others are doing to make a difference in this fight against radical Islam…
· If you want to just have some fun with like-minded patriots…
…then the answer to that question is YES!
LOG ON HERE to register or find out more about the conference. The conference starts in just 54 days, and if you want to ensure you’ll get a hotel room at the heavily discounted conference rate, you need to reserve your room by June 1. Call 800.843.6664 or reserve your hotel room online HERE.
Still trying to decide? Here’s a 57 second video message one of last year’s attendees just emailed to us. We hear a lot of concerns from people that America’s young people aren’t waking up to this threat. Well, here’s one of our future leaders!!
LOG ON HERE to register or find out more about the conference. The conference starts in just 54 days, and if you want to ensure you’ll get a hotel room at the heavily discounted conference rate, you need to reserve your room by June 1. Call 800.843.6664 or reserve your hotel room online HERE.
Still trying to decide? Here’s a 57 second video message one of last year’s attendees just emailed to us. We hear a lot of concerns from people that America’s young people aren’t waking up to this threat. Well, here’s one of our future leaders!!
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THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105
PH: 734-827-2001, FX: 734-930-7160
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2012 www.thomasmore.org
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105
PH: 734-827-2001, FX: 734-930-7160
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2012 www.thomasmore.org
Irony—Police Shut-down Event Promoting U.S. Constitution. Thomas More Law Center Files Lawsuit against Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI); Allegan Officials
ANN ARBOR, MI – In the middle of an event to extol the virtues of the U.S. Constitution and “American Laws For American Courts,” the audience learned first-hand how easy it is to lose their freedom of Speech and Assembly.
Amid shouts of “What about free speech?” from the audience, the Allegan Police Department ordered the event shut-down. School officials notified police that they had received a letter complaining about the event from Dawud Walid, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI). The letter asked the school to disallow the event despite an existing contract. CAIR was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorism funding trial in U. S. history, U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation.
As a result, the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced today that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR- MI), its Executive Director, the City of Allegan, the Allegan Police Department and the School District were named as defendants in a thirty-four page civil rights lawsuit filed in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Michigan, this morning. The claims included constitutional and contract violations. [Click here for copy of federal complaint]
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center commented, “It’s amazing how much clout CAIR has with the political establishment of both parties in Lansing and throughout Michigan and the nation. This, despite the fact that CAIR has its roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, and the FBI’s former chief of counterterrorism, noted that CAIR, its leaders, and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups."
Continued Thompson, “Press accounts make it clear that an indictment naming CAIR as a defendant in the Holy Land Foundation trial was squelched by Attorney General Holder’s office despite vehement objections by FBI agents and the federal prosecutors in Dallas.”
The TMLC federal lawsuit was brought on behalf of State Representative David Agema; a chapter leader of ACT! for America, Elizabeth Griffin; Allegan County Commissioner, Willis Sage; and Mark Gurley, one of the event sponsors.
The event in question, entitled, “Constituting Michigan – Founding Principles Act” took place on January 26, 2012 at an Allegan High School auditorium which had been rented by Willis Sage.
The purpose of the event was to inform the public about the importance of honoring the United States Constitution, to recognize the internal threat to America posed by radical Muslims and the dangers to our free society caused by the imposition of Sharia law.
At first the Allegan police chief police indicated he shut down the event because of threats to one of the speakers, Kamal Saleem; however, shortly thereafter, the chief admitted to a reporter that there was no specific threat to the event and no real danger at all. In fact, no specific threats of violence relating to the event were received by the City of Allegan, its police department, the Allegan Public School District or Allegan Public High School.
Police gave as their reason, the appearance of one of the featured speakers, Kamal Saleem, a former Muslim terrorist who converted to Christianity. Saleem has spoken at numerous high schools and universities, Christian churches and Jewish temples across the nation. He has also spoken at the U. S. Air Force Academy, Michigan’s State Capital, and Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. At no time before the Allegan event or afterwards has an event where he has spoken been shut down by law enforcement.
Sage notified the Allegan police chief ten days before the event and invited him to check out the background of Saleem, which he never did.
Erin Mersino is the TMLC attorney handling the case.
More on Plaintiffs
State Representative David Agema is an elected State Representative for the 74th District serving in Michigan’s House of Representatives. He is a sponsor of HB 4769 entitled “Restriction of Application of Foreign Laws Act” (based on the American Laws for American Courts Model Act), which bans the use of foreign laws including Sharia law, by courts and administrative bodies of the State, when those laws conflict with fundamental rights protected by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Michigan. Defendant Walid, is an outspoken opponent of HB 4769.
Elizabeth Griffin is a chapter leader for the organization, ACT! for America, a non-partisan, non-sectarian organization whose mission is to give Americans concerned about national security, terrorism, and the threat of radical Islam, a powerful, organized, informed and mobilized voice. Griffin promotes the “Constituting Michigan – Founding Principles Act”, which would require Michigan public schools to teach the history and Constitution of the United States. Griffin also guides and mentors chapter leaders for various chapters of the ACT! for America organization, as well as educates concerned Americans about the threat of Islamic Sharia law to our system of law in the United States.
Willis Sage is a County Commissioner for the County of Allegan, Michigan. Sage is the author of the “Constituting Michigan – Founding Principles Act,” which would require Michigan public schools to teach the history and constitution of the United States. He organized the event and rented the room at Allegan High School where the free speech event was held.
Plaintiff Mark Gurley was a sponsor of the event and paid for the airfare of Kamal Saleem. He is also an advocate of HB 4769, “Restriction of Application of Foreign Laws Act” (based on the American Laws for American Courts Model Act), sponsored by Plaintiff Agema.
Defendants’ pretextual claim that the free speech event needed to be shut-down for safety reasons subverts the true cause for halting the free speech event: complying with the demands of CAIR.
_________________________________
ANN ARBOR, MI – In the middle of an event to extol the virtues of the U.S. Constitution and “American Laws For American Courts,” the audience learned first-hand how easy it is to lose their freedom of Speech and Assembly.
Amid shouts of “What about free speech?” from the audience, the Allegan Police Department ordered the event shut-down. School officials notified police that they had received a letter complaining about the event from Dawud Walid, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI). The letter asked the school to disallow the event despite an existing contract. CAIR was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorism funding trial in U. S. history, U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation.
As a result, the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced today that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR- MI), its Executive Director, the City of Allegan, the Allegan Police Department and the School District were named as defendants in a thirty-four page civil rights lawsuit filed in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Michigan, this morning. The claims included constitutional and contract violations. [Click here for copy of federal complaint]
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center commented, “It’s amazing how much clout CAIR has with the political establishment of both parties in Lansing and throughout Michigan and the nation. This, despite the fact that CAIR has its roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, and the FBI’s former chief of counterterrorism, noted that CAIR, its leaders, and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups."
Continued Thompson, “Press accounts make it clear that an indictment naming CAIR as a defendant in the Holy Land Foundation trial was squelched by Attorney General Holder’s office despite vehement objections by FBI agents and the federal prosecutors in Dallas.”
The TMLC federal lawsuit was brought on behalf of State Representative David Agema; a chapter leader of ACT! for America, Elizabeth Griffin; Allegan County Commissioner, Willis Sage; and Mark Gurley, one of the event sponsors.
The event in question, entitled, “Constituting Michigan – Founding Principles Act” took place on January 26, 2012 at an Allegan High School auditorium which had been rented by Willis Sage.
The purpose of the event was to inform the public about the importance of honoring the United States Constitution, to recognize the internal threat to America posed by radical Muslims and the dangers to our free society caused by the imposition of Sharia law.
At first the Allegan police chief police indicated he shut down the event because of threats to one of the speakers, Kamal Saleem; however, shortly thereafter, the chief admitted to a reporter that there was no specific threat to the event and no real danger at all. In fact, no specific threats of violence relating to the event were received by the City of Allegan, its police department, the Allegan Public School District or Allegan Public High School.
Police gave as their reason, the appearance of one of the featured speakers, Kamal Saleem, a former Muslim terrorist who converted to Christianity. Saleem has spoken at numerous high schools and universities, Christian churches and Jewish temples across the nation. He has also spoken at the U. S. Air Force Academy, Michigan’s State Capital, and Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. At no time before the Allegan event or afterwards has an event where he has spoken been shut down by law enforcement.
Sage notified the Allegan police chief ten days before the event and invited him to check out the background of Saleem, which he never did.
Erin Mersino is the TMLC attorney handling the case.
More on Plaintiffs
State Representative David Agema is an elected State Representative for the 74th District serving in Michigan’s House of Representatives. He is a sponsor of HB 4769 entitled “Restriction of Application of Foreign Laws Act” (based on the American Laws for American Courts Model Act), which bans the use of foreign laws including Sharia law, by courts and administrative bodies of the State, when those laws conflict with fundamental rights protected by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Michigan. Defendant Walid, is an outspoken opponent of HB 4769.
Elizabeth Griffin is a chapter leader for the organization, ACT! for America, a non-partisan, non-sectarian organization whose mission is to give Americans concerned about national security, terrorism, and the threat of radical Islam, a powerful, organized, informed and mobilized voice. Griffin promotes the “Constituting Michigan – Founding Principles Act”, which would require Michigan public schools to teach the history and Constitution of the United States. Griffin also guides and mentors chapter leaders for various chapters of the ACT! for America organization, as well as educates concerned Americans about the threat of Islamic Sharia law to our system of law in the United States.
Willis Sage is a County Commissioner for the County of Allegan, Michigan. Sage is the author of the “Constituting Michigan – Founding Principles Act,” which would require Michigan public schools to teach the history and constitution of the United States. He organized the event and rented the room at Allegan High School where the free speech event was held.
Plaintiff Mark Gurley was a sponsor of the event and paid for the airfare of Kamal Saleem. He is also an advocate of HB 4769, “Restriction of Application of Foreign Laws Act” (based on the American Laws for American Courts Model Act), sponsored by Plaintiff Agema.
Defendants’ pretextual claim that the free speech event needed to be shut-down for safety reasons subverts the true cause for halting the free speech event: complying with the demands of CAIR.
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CAIR-MI Shuts Down Free Speech
John R. Houk
© May 4, 2012
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Lawsuit filed against CAIR-Michigan
ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.
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Irony—Police Shut-down Event Promoting U.S. Constitution. Thomas More Law Center Files Lawsuit against Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI); Allegan Officials
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