(AllHipHop News) A pastor from Florida has canceled his plans to burn copies of the Koran as part of a protest against a proposed mosque near the site of the World Trade Center terror attacks nine-years-ago today (September 11th). Pastor Terry Jones, who heads the tiny 70-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, had planned to burn copies of the holy book today, drawing condemnation, outrage and protests from around the world.Pastor Jones arrived in New York last night in hopes of obtaining a meeting with New York Imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf, to convince him to move the location of the mosque, which is near the location over 3,000 people from all ethnicities lost their lives in the terror attacks that leveled the WTC’s Twin Towers. “We have decided to cancel the burning,” Jones told NBC’s “Today” show this morning. “We will definitely not burn the Koran.”The news was welcomed by Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons, who has publicly supported the three-story Islamic cultural center, which is just two blocks from ground zero. Simmons’ artful expression of his opinion was seen around the world last month, when he commissioned a designer to create a variety of religious and spiritual symbols on the windows of his Liberty Street penthouse, which spelled out the word “Coexist.””It goes against the principles promoted by the prophets,” Russell Simmons told AllHipHop.com. “Burning the Koran is Anti-American and sacrilegious. American’s built this country on the First Amendment. Public figures are [now] engaging in a dialog that [would have] seemed ludicrous to me 10 years ago.”Pastor Jones’ plans also triggered a violent protest in Afghanistan, which left one dead on Friday (September 10th).”Its unfortunate that the pastor is protected by the 1st Amendment – his actions will definitely have repercussions against Americans, especially those who might be in countries fighting against insurgents,” said Muslim rapper Sadat X, echoing the sentiments of U.S. military leader Gen. David Petraeus, as well as President Barack Obama. Today, thousands of mourners gathered in New York to remember the victims of the September 11th terror attacks, which Present Barack Obama vowed to “never forget.””Today, we pause to remember a day that tested our country,” President Obama said. “On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the deadliest attack on American soil in our history. We will never forget the images of planes vanishing into buildings; of photos hung by the families of the missing. We will never forget the anger and sadness we felt. And while nine years have come and gone since that September morning, the passage of time will never diminish the pain and loss forever seared in the consciousness of our nation.”Police in New York are bracing for clashes between rival groups of protesters fighting for, or against the mosque’s location so close to the attacks.“As a first generation Turkish-American Muslim,” stated Turkkan, “I am saddened by the rhetoric that has taken over the national dialogue about religion since 9/11,” stated twenty-year media relations veteran Leyla Turkkan. “The media does not provide the correct representation of over a billion peace-loving Muslims in the world.”To combat the religious intolerance, Turkkan, who is CEO of the Catalyst Group, will offer pro-bono consultation to organizations that are attempting to build bridges between people of all denominations. “I intend on providing a more accurate portrayal of not only American Muslims, but all Americans who wish to preserve our identity as an inclusive society. I believe it is imperative we preserve the rich tradition of diversity and religious freedom that has always defined America.”QuestionsView Results
