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Oklahoma congressional candidate to attend protest of OU Muslim event

Friday, January 22, 2010


Oklahoma congressional candidate Kevin Calvey. Photo provided

An Oklahoma congressional candidate will attend the protest against an Islamic activist group on campus Saturday.

Kevin Calvey, Oklahoma 5th Congressional District candidate, R- Del City, said he was planning on attending the Oklahomans Against CAIR Hate protest outside of the Meacham Auditorium of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

“This has nothing to do with Muslims. I have worked with Muslims, and I respect their freedom of speech,” Calvey said. “But CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) is a terrorist group, and people need to know what they really are.”

Calvey said he respects Muslims and those who practice Islam, but said CAIR should be exposed for its alleged terrorist connections and recent terrorism related convictions.

“I risked my life and have fought along side Muslims in the defense of their freedom and our freedom,” Calvey said. “We hope that people will come out and talk to us about the truth behind this organization.”

Calvey said the protest will not be linked to his campaign for Congress and that he is going out of personal convictions and revelations.

“I just began to learn the truth about CAIR earlier this month and that is when I began to speak out and protest after I have seen for myself that this group is not what it makes it self out to be,” he said.

Ahmad Khattab, OU Muslim Student Association president, told The Daily earlier this week that he felt the protesters were personally attacking him because he and other campus Muslims are being targeted. CAIR has helped with the Muslim Student Association with campus activities in the past.

“By them coming to campus and shouting out stereotypes, they are promoting ignorance,” Khattab said. “It is that negative stereotyping, ignorance and bias that they will show that makes life hard for many Muslim Americans in this country every day. CAIR really does do positive things, and by throwing out rumors and false accusations, they are showing that they are just here to be hateful.”

But Calvey said he hopes to show that he cares about all Muslims and the only reason people are coming to OU is to protest CAIR and its national leadership, who Calvey said is under investigation by the FBI for terrorist connections.

Calvey said he stands by Cindy Crenshaw, president of Oklahomans Against CAIR Hate, who was quoted in The Daily as announcing its intentions of coming on campus as exposing a terrorist group.

“CAIR tries to portray itself as an innocuous civil rights organization, but it is not,” Crenshaw stated on the group’s Web site. "CAIR leaders have been sentenced to 65 years in prison for terrorist related activities; CAIR received funds from a bogus ‘charity’ called the Holy Land Foundation which funneled money to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas; the FBI cut off relations with CAIR late in 2008 out of concerns for CAIR’s terrorist connections; and CAIR is regarded as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League, a nearly 100-year-old respected institution dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of proof of CAIR’s terrorist connections.”

Calvey said the group does not know what the film is about and plans to protest CAIR outside of the event it is holding.

Also, Roberta Clark, associate regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, told The Daily in an e-mail her organization does not consider CAIR as a hate group.

Calvey served as a state representative for Oklahoma House District 94 from 1998 to 2006. In 2007, Calvey fought in the Iraq War.

Comments

Where's the counter-protest going to be? This is disgusting.

Posted by anonymous / eightbitgirl on January 22, 2010 at 5:18 p.m.

The Anti-Defamation Leagues National Director Abraham H. Foxman issued a press release earlier this month calling CAIR and other Islamic organizations's efforts to stop radicalization a sham!

"The Muslim American Society (MAS) and the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) held a major community convention in Chicago in December 2009 where the convention chair called for an Islam "clean and clear of all extremism."

But the convention, which had been specifically identified by MAS and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as the venue to begin the effort to combat radicalization, failed to seriously address the problem. In fact, it provided a platform for extremist views, according to ADL. The Chicago convention, which attracted more than 1,000 participants, served as a forum for religious scholars and political activists to rail against Jews, call for the eradication of the state of Israel and accuse the United States government as waging a war against Muslims at home and abroad.

"It is shocking that this conference, identified by some major Muslim-American groups as the venue to start the process of reform at a time of growing attacks and threats by American Muslim extremists, was a sham and nothing more than a cover for the dissemination of hateful anti-American and anti-Israel views and anti-Semitism," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "The fact that it provided a platform for extremist views calls into question the sincerity of the effort to serve as a legitimate counterbalance to radicalization. No legitimate blueprint for change can emerge from a convention permeated by messages conveying hatred of Jews, the denial of Israel's right to exist and the idea that the U.S. is at war with Islam."

Posted by anonymous / zTruth on January 22, 2010 at 5:42 p.m.

http://www.cair.com/aboutus/cairnational...
Part of being at a university is doing your research instead of becoming a blind follower (as the tendancy of a majority of the Oklahoma legislature is knee jerk reactions -- and being ill informed). Here are some of the board members of CAIR.

Senator Larry Shaw=a five-term legislator was elected as vice-chairman of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus of the state's general assembly.

Ihsan Bagby= Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at University of Kentucky

Mr. Nihad Awad=flew to Oklahoma to aid in the relief effort. He personally met with Governor Frank Keating

Corey Saylor=Director of Government Affairs; news outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and NPR have sought Saylor’s opinions.
Saylor-maintained a blog focused on the 2005-2006 re-authorization of the USA PATRIOT ACT

Calvey claims Christians are discriminated against (I haven't faced discrimination)Supported the ultrasound requirement of women seeking to terminate pregnancies (a slight rights violation and now a bill in court); is against rights issues for gays/lesbians....and the list goes on.

Posted by anonymous / Tina on January 22, 2010 at 7:46 p.m.

Lord, NO! Not this man. This man is a hateful racist who believes because he packs a pistol God is on his side. He showed his ignorance, lack of compassion, and bull-in-a-china-cabinet style at the debate on Immigration at OU a while back. He hates Mexicans, he hates Muslims (he hates himeslf). I hope he finds Jesus somewhere on campus, and maybe he can get a facial resurfacing at DermaLogic while he's in town. He has a complexion only a mother could love,

-Bubba

Posted by anonymous / Bubba on January 22, 2010 at 10:18 p.m.

Nihad Awad, the Executive Director of CAIR - one of its co-founders - was the former Public Relations Director for the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) - a group started by Hamas leader Mousa Marzook amd shut down by the federal government. IAP was described as the overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in United States vs. Yaser Bushnag on page 3, sec 4a. Hamas was started by the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.

Awad attended a summit of U.S.-based HAMAS members and supporters in 1993. At this meeting, which was wired-tapped by the FBI, the men conspired to hide their true agenda, agreeing not to even say the word "HAMAS" - but to call it "SAMAH"

Awad stated at Barry University on March 22, 1994 he supported Hamas! It's on video.

On 60 Minutes 11/13/94 Mike Wallace asked Awad what he though of the military aggression of Hamas against Israel. He replied The -- the United Nations Charter grants people who are under occupation to defend themselves against illegal occupation."

On April 20, 2002 Awad spoke at a rally under the Hezbollah flag.

Awad and CAIR Chairman Omar Ahmad refused to testify before hearings held by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security in 2005.

Razi Hashmi, the director of CAIR Oklahoma has shilled for Hamas, as well - at least two time that I know about. Once, when he told U.S. Rep. Mary Fallen she should be neutral when she spoke up against Hamas last January and again when he decried the treatment of the "Hamas Rulers" in Gaza. His statements are documented in local newspapers.

CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest Hamas terror funding case in U.S. history for their connection to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Posted by anonymous / zTruth on January 23, 2010 at 7:50 a.m.

This article, and the responses to it, is a great example of what's wrong with this country. People are more worried about the credibility of a particular entity than the actual message being espoused. Is Calvey a racist? Does CAIR have "terrorist connections"? I honestly couldn't care less, as these things are irrelevant. What are the actual substantive points being raised by each party? Does anyone know? Do these substantive points even exist?

Posted by anonymous / xXAssassinXx on January 23, 2010 at 10:54 a.m.

Ties to terrorists aren't relevant? Oh mercy, you need help.

Posted by anonymous / zTruth on January 23, 2010 at 12:55 p.m.

it's interesting that this protest and the accusations come on the heels of Inhofes blanket statement lumping (again) a 'majority/ of all Muslims/followers of Islam as terrorists.

Wonder if I could find connections to the Irgun/Stern gangs in Israel and the Israeli Antidefamation League? And is it not interesting that the ADL feels that any criticism of Israeli policies or politics is anti-semitism?

"It can be said without exaggeration that the ADL is the single most influential organization in the United States. It works closely with the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, and sometimes with the FBI or CIA. Through its multifold activities and ability to crush dissent, it is probably more responsible for American attitudes and American foreign policy toward the Middle East than any other single force. (Washington report on Middle East affairs)

Awad is correct, like it or not he has some valid points. The Balfour declaration declared the state of Israel by displacing Palestinians - it is an occupation. The Palestinians were not given a vote or a choice; the Allies did not know what to do with the Jewish refugees from Germany/Poland/Russia etc post WWII -so with Zionism as a new political force, Lord Balfour worked closely with its leaders to resolve the Jewish question.

Personally I agree with the last point above...I'm just tired of narrow minded one sided racist remarks from all parties and organizations

by the way ZTruth...found your site.

Posted by anonymous / Tina on January 23, 2010 at 2:11 p.m.

I think the blanket usage of the term terrorist needs to be eliminated. Hamas does not equal the Taliban and neither is the same as Al Qaeda. It is RACIST to assume that these organizations with very different goals and methods are related because there organizations are comprised of militant Muslims. The flimsy connections between these groups sound like good old American conspiracy theories driven by nativist xenophobia. Remember the PLO used to be a "terrorist" organization and now they are recognized as a legitimate party. Is any armed Muslim a terrorist? Don't they have the right to defend and protect their own communities (as in Palestine)?

Posted by anonymous / midas on January 23, 2010 at 3:52 p.m.

After reading the comments here I’m glad Calvey’s grandstanding isn’t fooling many people. Regardless of how it’s reported here Calvey is not merely attending this protest, according to the groups involved Calvey organized the whole thing! I believe its time for Calvey to do what the Executive Director of the Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists called for him to do and apologize to this group (http://mainstreambaptist.blogspot.com/20...). Remember last week when Calvey called for a protest only to show up at the wrong place and get kicked off by the police? You can only go to the well so many times; it’s time for this lost candidate to start looking for cheap political points elsewhere.

Posted by anonymous / mattjs on January 23, 2010 at 4:12 p.m.

I think it is the other way around - CAIR is not fooling Oklahomans.

CAIR Oklahoma changed the location of their anti-airline profiling townhall at the last minute to avoid protestor. It even said so on their own website.

BTW, Hamas is a designated foreign terror organization.

Posted by anonymous / zTruth on January 23, 2010 at 6:33 p.m.

This is a university. Someone is presenting a documentary. They are entitled to do so, and on a university campus absolute freedom of expression should be our fundamental value. At a university, there is no need to fear any idea. Weak, incorrect, and dishonest views will fall under their own weight when thoughtful people examine the logic and evidence.

It is of course deeply suspicious when somebody wants to silence or block the expression of ANY idea. What do they really fear? And why?

Take this opposition to freedom of speech off our campus; stand on the other side of Boyd and scream and shout all you want. Thoughtful OU students already understand that you and the REV Fred Phelps are of the same ilk.

If you want to express your own views about anything, you should be welcome and free to do so on our campus, but do NOT try to prevent anyone else from expressing their views. This perverts the sacred mission of all great universities.

If zTruth and this odd assortment of Glen Beck-inspired quasi-politicians would like to express their own views (rather than try to block the presentation of views they disagree with), perhaps they could start with their answers to these questions:

(A) what should the people of Gaza do with their lives in the situation that is imposed upon them against their will?

(B) In what ways is Gaza not a concentration camp imposed by force on an ethnic group?

(C) What right does Israel have to the Occupied Territories and East Jerusalem other than the right of conquest and occupation by military force?

(D) Why is it that opposition to revisionist Likud Zionism should be called anti-semitism? The original Zionism was left-wing Labor zionism, and actually quite secular. And many devout and serious Jews were/are anti-Zionist? And (just to state the obvious) Arabs are also semitic.

(E) Have you guys ever read a serious book? Have you ever read a book that presents both sides of any argument?

Posted by anonymous / impatient_with_ignorance on January 23, 2010 at 7:21 p.m.

No one was trying to block anything. The protest was about CAIR only and their troubling history which is documented in in federal court transcripts and court filings and, of course, their own words and actions.

And to answer the 5 questions:
A: Palestine has been offered statehood twice and has rejected it. Islamists want all of Israel - you know, the way it was under the control of the caliphs or Islamic hegemonies.
B.: Again, Palestine has been offered statehood...
C: Why is Palestine not mentioned in the Bible or the Quran once? Israel, on the other hand, is mentioned in both books.
D: I don't know what you mean here.
E: I read court documents about CAIR

Hope that helps.

Posted by anonymous / zTruth on January 23, 2010 at 9:45 p.m.

It helps much more than you would ever guess.

Please document when, where, and by whom Palestine was offered statehood twice, with what boundaries, and under what conditions. Like a number of things you have posted (the position of ADL on CAIR), this assertion is flatly false. It seems clear that means nothing to you, and will not change your thinking. Making false statements and taking no notice when the falsehood is pointed out is of course identical to the approach taken by Glen Beck/Limbaugh et al.

Maybe reading court documents about CAIR isn't sufficient. Even on that, do you realize that there were two trials? After a jury refused to convict in California, resulting in a mistrial, the federal government moved the case to TEXAS, where they did indeed get a conviction, which is under appeal. The 300 supposed "unindicted co-conspirators," are obviously UNIDICTED, meaning there is not even enough evidence to CHARGE them., just to try to intimidate them.

Posted by anonymous / impatient_with_ignorance on January 24, 2010 at 7:38 a.m.

The Muslim apologists are out in force at OU. No doubt these are the same people who claim Nidal Hasan's --the cold-blooded murderer of 13 at Fort Hood-- crimes had nothing to do with his being a devout Muslim.

Here is what the original chairman of CAIR said:

“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Qu’ran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”—Omar Ahmed CAIR (Council for American Islamic Relations) Founding Chairman

Posted by anonymous / Arafat on January 24, 2010 at 9:08 a.m.

Having studied Middle Politics and Policies in the 1970's -- too many people today read only 'recent' books available at big box book stores.

"The Middle East Today" by Peretz has an updated 6th edition. His first edition was the text in my upper division Middle East/International Relations course many moons ago.

For those who may wish to read a very good book on the conflicts of the entire region try 'Storm from the East' by Milton Viorst.

So pleased to see that in Oklahoma there are people who do not take the Bible as historical fact; and that there are many who may have been silent for far too long. We cannot allow fanatical Christianity to dictate policies either in individual states or at the Federal level.

Posted by anonymous / Tina on January 24, 2010 at 9:59 a.m.

“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Qu’ran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”—Omar Ahmed CAIR (Council for American Islamic Relations) Founding Chairman

Posted by anonymous / Arafat on January 24, 2010 at 10:52 a.m.

OU desperately needs a speaking post of some kind. Somewhere on campus, it should be designated that any person with any idea may go to that point (preferably a place that isn't terribly distracting) and speak his or her mind. A number of other colleges have such a spot. At this spot, it is known on campus that everyone must at least respect and listen (if they so chose) to what that person is saying no matter how outlandish. Groups need to stop holding little viewing sessions where they just show some documentary, and should voice their opinion to the public in the open. Then the public may decide whether their views are realistic or worthless. No need for protests, counter protests etc. Just good old fashion public discourse.

Posted by anonymous / jssooner4 on January 24, 2010 at 1:56 p.m.

Here are some facts about CAIR, not the sanitzied version you'll hear about here.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/12/spence...

Posted by anonymous / Arafat on January 24, 2010 at 2:20 p.m.

Its a documentary at a university, for all of his tea party rhetoric about the United States abandoning the Constitution Calvey doesn't seem too concerned with the 1st Amendment. This isn't an issue of being politically correct at the risk of national security like at Ft. Hood this is pure grandstanding and its lack of constitutional base is exactly what's already wrong with Congress, why send another to Washington?

Calvey's past (http://www.google.com/search?q=crooked+k...) already provided a reason not to support Calvey, how many reasons does he need to provide?

I can't stand grandstanding, exclusive blow hards like Calvey he makes Republicans such as myself look bad by name association.

Posted by anonymous / commonsenseconservative on January 25, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.
Posted by anonymous / Arafat on January 25, 2010 at 10:10 a.m.

Arafat, most readers of this thread understand that you think David Horowitz' dishonest website frontpagemag.com is somehow a reliable source and Daniel Pipes' efforts to silence anyone who thinks the Palestinians may indeed have a legitimate grievance are correct.

But David Horowitz and Daniel Pipes have well-earned reputations for being dishonest demagogues who have made careers opposing academic freedom and trying to silence voices that are not expressed anywhere in our societyc except in the protected sanctuary of free thought, our best universities. Don't bring that crap into a university discussion and think it will help your viewpoint in any way.

Posted by anonymous / impatient_with_ignorance on January 26, 2010 at 6:48 a.m.

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