Children's Crusade

The protest on Friday at East Midtown Plaza, within sight of the United Nations, against the Danish cartoons that depict the Prophet Mohammad was a good deal more peaceful than similar protests held around the world. The rally, organized by the Muslim Leadership Council, lasted several hours. The New York Times reported that more than 1,000 Muslims attended. The overlying theme from various Islamic-American groups was that Muslims had a right to be outraged by the cartoons but should be peaceful in their responses. A prayer ceremony on large tarps took place between speakers. A large group of young girls carrying Korans chanted slogans and carried signs during a march through the plaza. "The kids make all their own signs," said Hidayat-Ullah Khan of Brooklyn. Khan also said they attended to show that the media's "freedom boundary will stop where our freedom starts." Young members of a group calling itself the Islamic Thinkers Society carried signs portraying President George W. Bush, writers and journalists with targets on their foreheads. The Jackson Heights-based group holds weekly neighborhood protests and was involved in an altercation last year for allegedly attacking a lesbian woman after she knocked down their signs. The group has said they resort only to peaceful means. 

"I don't promote violence towards the Danish cartoonists or to anyone," said Mussrah, who declined to give his last name but said he was from Queens and carried one of the Islamic Thinkers Society signs. "I do pray for the wrath of Allah upon them."