A peace march in support of a controversial proposed mosque in Sheepshead Bay turned ugly on Thursday after residents jeered marchers, most of whom were from outside the area.
“This is a Jewish neighborhood – build a mosque in your own neighborhood,” yelled Stan Yunatanov, who lives across the street from the proposed house of worship and cultural center planned for Voorhies Avenue between East 28th and East 29th streets. Another woman, who refused to give her name, yelled, “[Muslims] don’t love America. They hate America.”
There were no arrests, but tensions – which were already high ever since the Muslim American Society purchased the property earlier this year – was definitely of Biblical proportions during the “Children of Abraham Interfaith Peace Walk,” the seventh annual march for the Park Slope-based group.
The peace group originally planned to have its march in Coney Island, but decided to have it in Sheepshead Bay to support the embattled mosque project. “It’s a show of support for the right of all faiths to worship,” said Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, one of the event organizers and the head of Kolot Chayeinu, a Jewish congregation that holds its services in a Park Slope church.
The show of support had a distinct “outsider” feel, however. Organizers said that they tried to get locals involved, but failed. “We tried to recruit local clergy, but nobody wanted to join the walk,” said Rev. Tom Martinez, another Park Slope-based cleric.
As a result, the march started on Voorhies and Ocean avenues. In all, about 200 children and adults – many waving American flags – walked peacefully down Emmons Avenue and up Bedford Avenue before turning down Voorhies, where they were greeted with the catcalls. Some opponents held photos of Muslims burning an American flag and denounced the mosque’s affiliation with the Muslim American Society, which has been tied to Hamas and Hezbollah.