Anti-Islamic pastor Terry Jones plans to burn nearly 3,000 copies of the Muslim holy book the Koran on September 11, and that has residents of a small Florida town up in arms.
Jones chose the small town of Mulberry in central Florida for his annual event at which he will destroy one Koran for every life he estimates was lost in the 2001 terror attacks.
According to
Gannett-owned WTSP local news, a group of residents in the 3,800-strong town has joined together to protest Jones.
"Why would you come to little Mulberry, that is peaceful and diverse? We like it that way, and why come to our town and stir up the pot of hate and division?" said "Not in Mulberry" group founder Suzanne Carter-Moore.
The group meets weekly and plans a rally on September 7. Members have also created a Facebook Page called "Not in Mulberry Dr. Terry Jones."
Jones, who has been staging his protest since 2010, says he was invited by a supporter living in the town, and argues he is not against Muslims but against Islam.
"I think people get confused. We by no means, and never in any of the protests we have ever done, demonstrated any type of hate. And we definitely do not hate Muslims. We respect their right here in America to be here, to practice their religion under the First Amendment. It's not about Muslims, it is about that violent core message that Islam has."
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