Tennessee

Hate crimes against Muslims has been a reoccurring problem in the city of Murfreesboro Tennessee. Expression of anti Muslims feelings can be viewed in the vandalism of property belonging to the proposed Islamic Center in Murfreesboro. Recently on August 27, 2010 an unidentified person trespassed on the construction site of the new mosque and set one of the construction vehicles on fire. They then drenched the other vehicles with gasoline and fled the site. John Green, a local attorney and supporter of the Islamic Center, believes that along with this being a case of vandalism it is also a hate crime. "I don't think there's any reason to suspect it's anything other than a hate crime," Green said. "John Ford, of Ole South Construction Company, has insurance on the equipment; it's not anything else but a vicious display of bigotry against the members of the center." The criminal was able to instill fear in the hearts of Muslims; since the attack some Muslims have been afraid to leave their house due to fear of being attacked. But these were not the only attack on the construction site. Earlier in January the sign at the site of the future mosque was damaged by graffiti writing sprayed on the sign saying “Not Welcome”. The sign was replace but in June the new sign was broken. Already existing mosques in Tennessee have to been vandalized. Al farooq mosque was attacked by Christian graffiti of crosses and writing saying “Muslims go home”. But what these terrorist individuals fail to realize is that being Muslim does not cancel ones’ citizenship, how does someone  who was born here and grew up here, and knows the United States as his own country, to “go home” if they are already home. Organizations such as Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns the ongoing religious intolerance in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and promotes freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all of our fellow human beings. However there are many people who are against the construction of the Islamic center. Republican Lou Ann Zelenik has been one of the leading individuals oppose to the building, she argues: "our nation was founded on the tenets of the Judeo-Christian tradition; we have a right to defend that tradition.” But this act of intolerance is clearly opposed to the first amendment created by the forefathers of the U.S, and that is the freedom for religion. Construction of the mosque is still undergoing despite all attempts to prevent is existence