Even before this weekend's scheduled US-wide rallies against radical Islam could begin, Muslim civil rights groups backed up by major media outlets have already denounced the organisers, accusing them of fanning the flames of Islamophobia or prejudice against Muslims, WND News reported.
The nationwide protests, dubbed the "Global Rally for Humanity," is principally geared towards expressing the American conservatives' opposition to the planned importation of tens of thousands of Muslim refugees from Syria.
Protests are planned this weekend in at least 18 cities in the US including Dearborn, Michigan; Amarillo, Texas; Phoenix; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Oklahoma City; and Jacksonville, Florida.
The protests were organised through Facebook. The "Global Rally for Humanity" group's national Facebook page urges each state to form its own Facebook group and protest against "radical Islam," which it says is attacking humanity on a global scale and on a daily basis.
Some state organisers have called on protesters to bring their firearms and hold their rally in front of mosques.
But even before protesters could assemble, major media organisations such as
CNN, CBS and the Washington Post have already come out with reports amplifying the views of Muslim civil rights leaders from the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Southern Poverty Law Center and other left-of-centre groups, all denouncing the planned protest action, according to WND.
Pamela Geller, author of "Stop the Islamization of America," tackled the issue on Thursday in her blog titled, "The Media Frenzy on a News Story That Hasn't Even Happened."
Geller accused the media giants of spreading "vicious propaganda" ahead of the rallies.
Theauthor slammed the media outlets for being "in a constant state of frenzied panic to advance and promote the lie of Islamophobia and Muslim-victimhood myth."
Even though the rallies have yet to begin, Geller said some news stories have already come out with stories "about armed Islamophobes descending upon poor, victimised Muslims this weekend."
CAIR has issued alerts urging mosques throughout the US to take extra security measures ahead of the rallies.
Muslim men praying on beach alarm Floridians
Meanwhile in Wakulla County, Florida, residents have been alarmed by the sight of a group of Muslim men praying on a beach in broad daylight on Mashes Sands Beach, a WND report said.
A local sheriff candidate expressed concern that the Muslims could react violently when they see "immodestly dressed" Americans having fun on the beach. Wakulla County Sheriff candidate Will Dance, told WTXL said he is concerned because "my daughters use that beach, my wife uses that beach and gentlemen, under Sharia Law, the cutoff shorts and T-shirts ... that my family wears on that beach are considered offensive under Shariah and any Muslim man may carry out what he feels is fit punishment. And I'm sorry but that type of behavior cannot happen here."
