A small group of six Christian activists led by Randall Terry took part in an anti-Muslim demonstration outside the White House on Saturday. One of the protesters reportedly ripped pages out of the Koran.
“Part of why we’re doing that, please hear me: the charade that Islam is a peaceful religion must end,” said Terry, well-known for his antics as an anti-abortion rights activist.
Andrew Beacham, who described himself as the leader of a Tea Party group from Indiana, ripped pages from an English paperback version of the Koran, then placed the ripped pages in a plastic trash bag.
“The only reason I will not burn it at the White House is because to burn anything on the Capitol grounds is a felony,” Beacham said, according to AFP.
According to ThinkProgress, Terry dismissed concerns that Sept. 11 was being politicized, saying that he wouldn’t “let the tail wag the dog.”
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
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