This Is The Islamophobic Network Behind The Anti-Sharia Marches

Civil rights groups are expressing concern that a wave of anti-Muslim sentiment is fueling the growth of right wing extremism across the United States, citing dozens of anti-Sharia demonstrations across the USA this weekend and an ongoing uptick in online recruitment.

ACT for America said the Saturday marches were "in support of basic human rights for all - and against the horrific treatment of women, children, and members of the LGBTQ community that is sanctioned by Sharia law", in a news release.

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.

"All across this country today, people came out and shut the racists down", said John Beacham of Answer Chicago.

More than 100 United States religious and civil liberties groups denounced the rallies as disingenuously fear-mongering, and condemned the protests in a letter to the mayors of host cities.

The other march, Seattle Stands with our Muslim Neighbors, counteracted the Seattle ACT for America protest, which they call a recognized Islamophobic hate group. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in May that the number of anti-Muslim incidents surged 57 percent a year ago compared with 2015.

Across the United States, counter-protests were drawn to demonstrations against #Islamic Law by people who encouraged unfounded fears and inaccurate view of the religion.

"I want to stop the attack on Arabs, on Muslims", a pro-Muslim protester said.

But it was noisy, with groups chanting, yelling and waving American flags and posters proclaiming various issues.

Counter-protestors stand behind barricades across the street from an anti-Islamic law protest rally Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Seattle.

"...is really just another way of being anti-Muslim and in our country we are a nation of immigrants".

Counter-protesters in Syracuse responded by shouting "Shame!"

But the Southern Poverty Law Center has called Act for America an anti-Muslim hate group.

The Kansas Chapter of the Council for American-Islamic Relations, the KC Muslim Civic Initiative, the Crescent Peace Society, and the Women's March on Kansas will have a separate event Saturday night.

"There are so many messages going on that I'm not sure who's who", Hards added.

"Radical Islam is a cancer that will destroy the world if we don't confront it and defeat it", Schildmeier said. "No, Muslims are attacking other Muslims, and we're bringing in these refugees that have the same ideologies".

This week, the group canceled its Batesville, Ark., rally after the law center revealed that neo-Nazi Billy Roper was the main organizer.

Demonstrators in Richardson marched at the corner of Abrams and Centennial, voicing their opinion that Sharia Law is incompatible with the constitution and American values.