MURFREESBORO, TN - Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom (MTRF) staged a peaceful silent protest yesterday outside of the Rutherford County Commission meeting. The following statement is issued by MTRF in response to last night's meeting, and includes comments members were unable to deliver at that meeting.

Last night Rutherford County Commissioners heard statements, facts and opinions from those against the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. We ask our Commissioners and all citizens of the county to listen closely to these statements for their validity, relevance and accuracy. As elected officials, it is their responsibility and obligation to stand with the laws of this land and stand firm in defense of our constitutional rights.

 

Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom asked citizens to come to the courthouse today in order to take a decisive stand in celebration of our Constitution, but furthermore, to take a stand in defense of the civil rights of our fellow citizens. We are a grassroots organization made from the great diversity in Rutherford County, Tennessee, but we all stand together today in order to oppose the efforts of some to influence our elected officials in a way which is inconsistent with the democratic values of our cherished republic.

 

Because the public comments Middle Tennesseans for religious freedom attempted to make last night were not heard due to the small amount of time allotted to speakers, some intended comments are included below.

 

“The Commission has acted lawfully in allowing this construction to take place. Anyone who thinks otherwise should seek to change the process by which it was approved, not to hinder the basic rights of others,” read the written statement Claire Rogers, Murfreesboro resident and media contact for MTRF, had prepared to deliver before the Commission.

 

“Some residents would have this be a political debate about infastructure concerns (many of which have now been addressed through actions like TDOT’s traffic study), or merely about the merit of different religions. Many opponents of the Islamic Center's construction argue the validity of Islam as a religion, or look in vain for signs of an Islamic political takeover. These concerns are ludicrous and have no place before this Commission in the zoning and construction approval process,” her comments continue.

 

Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom is organized by Murfreesboro residents of all backgrounds and faiths to stand with the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro on their right to build a place of worship which is large enough to support their needs. Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom sees no difference between the plans for the Islamic Center’s expansion and the dozens of equally large Christian churches here in Murfreesboro.

 

We humbly ask the Commission to please support the rights of our fellow Rutherford County citizens. The families at the Islamic Center are simply looking for a more comfortable place to worship God freely.

 

"Houses of worship must build as their congregations grow. An increase in the number of spiritual people in this one nation, under the God of our own choosing, surely must be seen as positive by everyone in this community," said Rogers.

 

Our organization has asked for citizens to hold a rally which clearly demonstrates our commitment to the civil rights of all: even and especially those who are different from us. This event, and the event which may follow, concerned our right to worship in peace, regardless of our creed. These rights should not be taken lightly--much blood has been shed and is still shed in defense of our right to freedom of worship. We are here to remind those who do not take this cherished Constitutional right seriously of these truths about our American republic.

 

“Most who wish to see this mosque go away do not understand that the actions they are taking now against the freedoms of others are actions taken against the freedoms of all,” read the statement scheduled MTRF speaker Thomas Connor Moss, also a Murfreesboro resident.

 

“It is shocking and sad that some involved in this debate will believe anything without question so long as it reaffirms their beliefs. That alone is responsible for the vast majority of outrage,” Moss said.

 

Out of respect for the law, respect for your neighbors and respect to what the First Amendment promises every citizen of this great nation, we ask the Rutherford County Commission to respect their own decision to allow the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro room to grow in our community.

 

They are the only elected officials with the power to do what is right today, and the power to set the standard for what is right tomorrow, when another group of citizens must rely on their government to do what was promised in the Constitution.