Link: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-anti-muslim-rallies-20170610-story.html
Members of Act for America, which has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, gathered in parks and plazas across the country, organizing nearly two dozen so-called March Against Sharia rallies, stoking concerns and counter-events by Muslim leaders who say the group is spewing hate.
Nevertheless, joggers took out their earbuds and cyclists stopped pedaling, aghast as the small Atlanta crowd chanted, USA! USA! and spoke fervently of terrorism, female genital mutilation and beheadings. A small gaggle of counter-protesters held up placards and shouted, No Hate! No Fear! Muslims Are Welcome Here.
We have to protect America, our citizens and our way of life, said Lila Mercer, 49, an assistant manager for a big rig dealership who had traveled 40 miles from Auburn, Ga., for her first protest.
Sharia law does not belong in America, she said as she waved a homemade placard that said GOD BLESS USA.
Behind her, Michael Williams, a two-term Republican state senator who is running for governor, waved a tiny U.S. flag as he posed for photographs with armed members of Georgia Security Force III% militia
We all need to come together, put aside some of our petty differences and unite together to fight Sharia law, Williams shouted through a bullhorn to the crowd of about 50 people. We do not need it in our country. Overseas in Europe and other places, theyre throwing people off of buildings, theyre decapitating people because they do not believe the things they believe.