The Sword and Shield for People of Faith
Remembering SEAL Team Six and the other unnamed Special Forces Operators on the first anniversary of the raid that killed bin Laden.
“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle”
General Norman Schwarzkopf
April 30, 2012
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 yesterday that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR- MI), its Executive Director, the City of Allegan, theAllegan 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.”
TMLC’s 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.
According to a Fox News story which aired yesterday (click here to see the Fox News video), the Commandant of Camp Pendleton, California, Colonel Nicholas F. Marano, USMC, is expected to rule shortly on whether two memorial crosses erected atop Mount Horno can remain in place.
The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State are threatening to sue if COL Marano decides the crosses can stay. They contend the crosses represent an unconstitutional endorsement of Christianity.
To Elena Zurheide, represented by the Thomas More Law Center, however, the 13 foot wooden memorial cross sitting atop the steep hill has nothing to do with establishing a religion. It has everything to do with the memory of her husband, Lance Corporal Robert P. Zurheide, who was killed in 2004 during the bloody fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. Their son Robert was born a month after his death.
The original memorial cross was carried to the top of a steep hill in 2003 by Lance Corporal Zurheide and six other Marines belonging to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines as a memorial to those killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On December 9, 2011, TMLC wrote a letter to Colonel Marano on behalf of its client Elena Zurheide and her seven year old son, urging him to defend the memorial cross erected on Veterans Day, 2011. It was a replacement for the original cross erected in 2003 and later destroyed by a brush fire in 2007.
Original memorial cross being carried in 2003, later
destroyed by a brush fire in 2007
The Mt. Horno cross quickly became a memorial marker as Marines and families of fallen Marines made the difficult hike up the hill to place items of remembrance at the foot of the cross. They have displayed sand from Iwo Jima to remember those Marines who have gone before us, and sand from Fallujah, to remember those Marines who more recently made the ultimate sacrifice. It is quite common to find rocks with messages, coins, dog tags, and uniform items displayed—all serving as symbols to remember a fallen family member or comrade.
Four of the seven who carried the original cross up the hill were subsequently killed in action, including Lance Cpl. Zurheide, Major Douglas Zembiec, Major Ray Mendoza, and Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin.
The last time Elena saw her husband alive was when they said goodbye at the foot of the hill bearing the cross.
This past year, on the Marine Corps birthday (November 10, 2011), the new 13 foot wooden cross was carried up the 3000 ft. climb to the top of the hill. Elena and her son Robbie were a part of the group that took the cross to the top of the hill. The next day, Veteran’s Day, the Cross was mounted at the exact location of the original cross. The memorial cross is dedicated to the memory of the four Marines who carried the original cross up the hill and were later killed in action.
Lance Corporal Zurheide’s son Robbie
Richard Thompson, the President and Chief Counsel for the Law Center, commented, “Our letter to Colonel Marano focused on the devastating impact removing this cross will have on those who have sacrificed so much for this country. Since the beginning of America, crosses have been used to memorialize our fallen warriors.”
Continued Thompson, “The 2010 Supreme Court decision involving the Mojave Desert cross may signal that the court will be more tolerant of religious symbols on public land. Justice Kennedy recognized that the cross is not merely an affirmation of Christian beliefs but a symbol often used to honor and respect heroism.”
Second memorial cross being carried to the hilltop on the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10, 2011
Camp Pendleton memorial cross surrounded
by items of remembrance
ANN ARBOR, MI – It was a free speech victory for Pastor Terry Jones as he addressed a crowd of supporters this past Saturday, April 7th. Pastor Jones and his associate pastor, Wayne Sapp spoke out against the evils of Sharia law in front of the largest mosque in North America.
A group of counter-protestors chanted obscenities and chased Jones’s supporters who were awaiting his arrival at the mosque. His supporters displayed signs in English and Arabic, which read, “I will not submit”. [Click here to see news video]
In February 2012, Pastor Jones’s organization filed a Special Events Application Permit as required by Dearborn. According to the application, he wanted to expose Sharia to a small gathering expected at 20-25 people. He indicated that he picked Easter Saturday to symbolize the persecution of Christians. [Click here for Special Events Application]
This time the City of Dearborn used a new tactic to stop his speech, a ‘Hold Harmless’ agreement. It didn’t work. The Thomas More Law Center filed a federal lawsuit on Monday April 2nd, claiming that the wording of the agreement placed an unconstitutional restriction on Pastor Jones’s First Amendment rights.
TMLC attorney Erin Mersino wrote in the lawsuit. “Plaintiffs should not be forced to sign a one-sided, unconscionable contract subject only to the unbridled discretion of the city’s legal department in order to exercise their constitutional rights,” She continued, “the city’s free speech restriction imposes an unconstitutional burden on plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.”
On Thursday, April 5th, Federal District Court Judge Denise Page Hood granted the Thomas More Law Center’s motion for an Emergency Temporary Restraining Order. She enjoined Dearborn from requiring Pastor Jones to sign a ‘Hold Harmless’ agreement before approving his permit to speak on public property. [Click here for Order]
The area surrounding the mosque and the counter-protestors was heavily guarded by police from several jurisdictions, including Dearborn, Detroit, and the Michigan State Police. The event also received local and national TV, radio and print media coverage.
Pastors Jones and Sapp offered prayers to open and close their event. They spoke of preserving the First Amendment and the United States Constitution and evangelizing American Muslims.
Stand Up America Now was established to proclaim the Holy Bible to Muslims and educate Americans about the threat of Sharia law to our Nation’s fundamental principles of freedom.
ANN ARBOR, MI – It was a free speech victory for Pastor Terry Jones as he addressed a crowd of supporters this past Saturday, April 7th. Pastor Jones and his associate pastor, Wayne Sapp spoke out against the evils of Sharia law in front of the largest mosque in North America.
A group of counter-protestors chanted obscenities and chased Jones’s supporters who were awaiting his arrival at the mosque. His supporters displayed signs in English and Arabic, which read, “I will not submit”. [Click here to see news video]
In February 2012, Pastor Jones’s organization filed a Special Events Application Permit as required by Dearborn. According to the application, he wanted to expose Sharia to a small gathering expected at 20-25 people. He indicated that he picked Easter Saturday to symbolize the persecution of Christians. [Click here for Special Events Application]
This time the City of Dearborn used a new tactic to stop his speech, a ‘Hold Harmless’ agreement. It didn’t work. The Thomas More Law Center filed a federal lawsuit on Monday April 2nd, claiming that the wording of the agreement placed an unconstitutional restriction on Pastor Jones’s First Amendment rights.
TMLC attorney Erin Mersino wrote in the lawsuit. “Plaintiffs should not be forced to sign a one-sided, unconscionable contract subject only to the unbridled discretion of the city’s legal department in order to exercise their constitutional rights,” She continued, “the city’s free speech restriction imposes an unconstitutional burden on plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.”
On Thursday, April 5th, Federal District Court Judge Denise Page Hood granted the Thomas More Law Center’s motion for an Emergency Temporary Restraining Order. She enjoined Dearborn from requiring Pastor Jones to sign a ‘Hold Harmless’agreement before approving his permit to speak on public property. [Click here for Order]
The area surrounding the mosque and the counter-protestors was heavily guarded by police from several jurisdictions, including Dearborn, Detroit, and the Michigan State Police. The event also received local and national TV, radio and print media coverage.
Pastors Jones and Sapp offered prayers to open and close their event. They spoke of preserving the First Amendment and the United States Constitution and evangelizing American Muslims.
Stand Up America Now was established to proclaim the Holy Bible to Muslims and educate Americans about the threat of Sharia law to our Nation’s fundamental principles of freedom.
Urges University of San Diego Alumni to Voice their Objections to Mary Lyons, University President
Charles LiMandri, the Thomas More Law Center’s West Coast Regional Director and prominent San Diego attorney, has launched an emergency campaign to stop the drag show scheduled for tomorrow, April 11th, at the University of San Diego’s (USD) University Center.
Please take action now to help him. Tomorrow is too late!
Calling the planned event “depraved”, LiMandri urged USD alums to immediately voice their strong objections to University President Mary Lyons and Director of the USD Alumni Association Charles Bass. [click here for letter]
LiMandri established a website, Alumni for a Catholic USD to organize support in opposition to the Wednesday event. His website also gives a video analysis (caution, graphic) of the vulgar activities USD is promoting for its Catholic students.
Unbelievably, in a recent California Catholic Daily article, President Mary Lyon’s told trustees that the planned drag show
“is not inconsistent with the university’s Catholic identity.”
Lyon’s defended the drag show on campus, citing other Catholic schools that held similar events, noting that…
“the Associated Students and the Pride student organization planned events that have been quite common at other Catholic universities including Santa Clara, DePaul, the University of Seattle and others.“
Richard Thompson, TMLC’s President and Chief Counsel urged Catholics concerned about a USD’s violation of Church teachings and Biblical admonitions to assist Chuck LiMandri.
Contact USD’s president, Mary Lyons, and let her know of your objections. Send a copy of your communication to Charles Bass, the Director of USD Alumni Association.
| Mary Lyons President of USD email: president@sandiego.edu phone: (619) 260-4520 fax: (619) 260-6833 |
Charles Bass Director of the USD Alumni Association email: charlesb@sandiego.edu phone: (619) 260-4819 fax: (619) 260-4188 |