Dual protests over ‘Grounds Zero mosque’ end peacefully despite clash of opinions

WASHINGTON - While dual protests against and for the Islamic center were going on near Ground Zero on Sunday, a 27 year-old medical student from Brooklyn, Michael Rose, openly challenged hundreds of anti-mosque protesters by carrying a handwritten sign in its favour that read “Religious tolerance is what makes America great.”

According to the New York Times, Rose would have been in danger had police not intervened and dragged him away. He was later asked to return to a separate area, one block away, where supporters of the mosque were asked to stand.

Around 500 opponents of the project stood in a cordoned-off area, singing patriotic songs and speaking of a hijacked Constitution, while about 200 supporters held a counter protest nearby.

The protest, however, did not lead to any violence and no arrests were reported. (ANI)