But the counter-protesters say if the opponents of Shariah law are truly concerned about religious intolerance, they need look no further than the mirror.
Demonstrators gathered to protest against Islamic law take part in a rally Saturday, June 10, 2017, in NY.
In Seattle, ACT supporters were outnumbered by counter-protesters at a rally that was moved from Portland, Oregon.
Demonstrators at small but raucous gatherings around the country Saturday raised the specter that extremist interpretations of Islamic law might somehow spread across the US, but numerous rallies drew even more boisterous counter-protests by people who called such fears unfounded. They were organized by the conservative group ACT for America, which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls the "largest grassroots anti-Muslim group in America, claiming 280,000 members and over 1,000 chapters".
The anti-Sharia marchers mostly stayed towards the top of the capitol steps, and their chanting was often drowned out by the protesters' drumming and shouting.
Scholars say there's little to no threat to USA democracy from Islamic law.
Molly Freiburg, 33, of Philadelphia, was one of the counter-protesters but not part of the larger group clad in black. Instead, they said they were choosing to fight against the repression of women.
About two dozen people gathered to oppose Islamic law, and many were many carrying assault weapons and wearing military-style uniforms. Counter-protests, affirming solidarity with the Islamic community, also took place.
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Participants chanted "No hate, no fear, Muslims are welcome here" on their way to City Hall, while a phalanx of bicycle police officers separated them from an anti-Shariah rally numbering in the dozens.
Denise Zamora, 39, of Upland said the group wasn't opposed to all Muslims.
Be proactive - Use the "Flag as Inappropriate" link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts. But this didn't reflect in their rallies, most of which had fewer than 100 people. The anti-Muslim demonstrators derided the counter-protesters as out of touch elites.
Protesters squared off at the main entrance of the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati Saturday in a local version of similar anti-Islamic demonstrations across the nation.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in May said that the number of anti-Muslim incidents surged 57 percent last year compared to the year 2015. But except for one brief moment when one group crossed the street to confront another - only to be herded back by police - there were no reports of violence and no arrests, police spokeswoman Eileen Hards said.
MARTIN: So, first of all, who organized these rallies and how many were there? "All of it is just barbaric".
The Saturday rallies in Chicago occurred near a building developed by President Donald Trump.
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