NEW YORK – It’s being billed as rally and a march against racism and anti-Muslim bigotry.

A coalition of groups in favor of the right to build a mosque near Ground Zero announced it will hold a counter-demonstration to those planning to protest the project.

It will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Broadway and Park Place — just east of the proposed Islamic community center.

“We’re expecting a large Muslim turnout and we’re also expecting a large and a very broad turnout of those who support and respect the rights of Muslims, and who are not themselves Muslims,” organizer Sara Flounders said.

Flounders said she expects thousands to turn out to denounce the anti-mosque groups who planned their own protests in the area on Saturday. She said the demonstration will feature a “whole spectrum of people” including Christians, Jews, trade unionists, students and anti-war protesters among others.

“We have to send a strong message to the world that this nation will have religious tolerance,” Councilman Charles Barron said.

The organizers said they thought the counter-demonstration was needed after anti-mosque groups decided to protest and got so much publicity.

Flounders also said the protest was meant to be a condemnation of “the racist, bigoted action taking place just a block from [the proposed mosque site].”

Source – 1010 WINS.com