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(in case there isn't already an intro) The following is a report on American Muslims demonstrating in New York in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests. The report is by Iran's Press TV and aired on the Internet on October 23, 2011.
On screen: "Wall Street Protests, Gary Anthony Ramsay, Press TV, New York"
Ramsay: American Muslims prayed at Zuccoti Park to show their solidarity with the growing Occupy Wall Street movement. While many have been here individually since the beginning of the demonstrations, this group felt it was important to come here in large numbers to show the world they, too, are Americans who understand the concerns of the discontented.
Female Protester: The Muslims American community has been part of Occupy Wall Street since day one, but today was our way of showing public, visible solidarity with Occupy Wall Street in the form of a Friday prayer.
Female Protester #2: Now is our chance to do something and make a difference because, really, there is no government without the people. We are the ones who are electing the people who are doing these things. We are not voting, there is a lot of inaction and here is the wakeup call. This is the tipping point. What's happened here at Occupy Wall Street is the tipping point and it's been a long time coming.
Ramsay: On the day when the U.S. vowed to keep its word to leave Iraq by the end of the year, the news was met with cautious optimism. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are seen by many demonstrators as a major financial drain on U.S. resources.
Cyrus McGoldrick – Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): I'll believe it when I see it. I think that it's been well on its way to becoming the 52nd state, but I really hope that they do, that the American government does honor their obligation because, to be honest, all the issues that are being represented here – these economic issues – this are very real issues, but guess what? How much money goes abroad, to these wars abroad... And this is completely aside from the fact that people's sovereignty, that a nation's sovereignty is being violated.
Ramsay: In the shadow of the World Trade Center attacks, the sight of Muslims demanding radical change in America isn't always a palatable thing even for protesters here, who for more than a month, have celebrated the diversity of this movement. During and after the service a few protesters yelled at the Muslims, saying this was a secular movement, not a religious one. The hecklers were quickly shouted down by the crowd with chants of "inclusion."
Muslim in Crowd: We can do it over here!
Crowd cheers.
Ramsay: Gary Anthony Ramsay, Press TV, New York.
Muslim in Crowd: Free, free, U.S.A!
Crowd: Free, free, U.S.A!
Crowd starts a chant of "Mic Check" – used by the protesters to convey what speakers are saying because bullhorns are banned
Female Protester: Tell me what democracy looks like!
Crowd: This is what democracy looks like!
Female Protester: Tell me what democracy looks like!
Crowd: This is what democracy looks like!
Female Protester: Tell me what America looks like!
Crowd: This is what America looks like!
Female Protester: Tell me what America looks like!
Crowd: This is what America looks like!
Female Protester: We are the 99%!
Crowd: We are the 99%!
Female Protester: We are the 99%!
Crowd: We are the 99%!
Female Protester: Tell me what democracy looks like!
Crowd: This is what democracy looks like!
Female Protester: Tell me what America looks like!
Crowd: This is what America looks like!
Female Protester: Tell me what democracy looks like!
Crowd: This is what democracy looks like!
Female Protester: Tell me what America looks like!
Crowd: This is what America looks like!
Male Protester: Tell me what democracy looks like!
Crowd: This is what democracy looks like!
Male Protester: Tell me what democracy looks like!
Crowd: This is what democracy looks like!
Male Protester: Tell me what America looks like!
Crowd: This is what America looks like!
Male Protester: Tell me what America looks like!
Crowd: This is what America looks like!
Male Protester: Whose street?
Crowd: Our street!
Male Protester: Whose street?
Crowd: Our street!
Male Protester: Whose street?
Crowd: Our street!
Male Protester: Whose street?
Crowd: Our street!
Cyrus McGoldrick stars another chant of "Mic Check"
Cyrus McGoldrick: Salaam Aleikum.
Crowd: Wa'aleikum salaam!
Cyrus McGoldrick: Salaam Aleikum.
Crowd: Wa'aleikum salaam!
Cyrus McGoldrick: Say: "Allah Akbar"
Crowd: Allah Akbar!
Cyrus McGoldrick: Say: "Allah Akbar"!
Crowd: Allah Akbar!
Cyrus McGoldrick: Say: "Allah Akbar"
Crowd: Allah Akbar!
Cyrus McGoldrick: Thank you all for being here.
Crowd: Thank you all for being here.
Cyrus McGoldrick: This is what democracy looks like.
Crowd: This is what democracy looks like.
Cyrus McGoldrick: Muslims, Jews, Christians, and all Americans.
Crowd: Muslims, Jews, Christians, and all Americans.
Cyrus McGoldrick: We have to be a part of the solution.
Crowd: We have to be a part of the solution.
Cyrus McGoldrick: Occupy Wall Street...
Crowd: Occupy Wall Street...
Cyrus McGoldrick: Is the best of America.
Crowd: Is the best of America.
Cyrus McGoldrick: We have to do what's right.
Crowd: We have to do what's right.
Cyrus McGoldrick: And call others to do what's right.
Crowd: And call others to do what's right.
Cyrus McGoldrick: We have to avoid what's wrong.
Crowd: We have to avoid what's wrong.
Cyrus McGoldrick: And tell others to avoid what's wrong.
Crowd: And tell others to avoid what's wrong.
Cyrus McGoldrick: The people at Wall Street...
Crowd: The people at Wall Street...
Cyrus McGoldrick: Excuse me, the people that occupy Wall Street.
Crowd: The people that occupy Wall Street.
Crowd cheers.
Cyrus McGoldrick: The people at occupy Wall Street...
Crowd: The people at occupy Wall Street...
Cyrus McGoldrick: Stand with Muslims in America.
Crowd: Stand with Muslims in America.
Crowd cheers.
Cyrus McGoldrick: However...
Crowd: However...
Cyrus McGoldrick: American Muslims...
Crowd: American Muslims...
Cyrus McGoldrick: Have to stand with Occupy Wall Street...
Crowd: Have to stand with Occupy Wall Street...
Crowd cheers.
Cyrus McGoldrick: For a long time.
Crowd: For a long time.
Cyrus McGoldrick: American Muslims have been scared into silence.
Crowd: American Muslims have been scared into silence.
Cyrus McGoldrick: Those days are over.
Crowd: Those days are over.
Cyrus McGoldrick: We are here in numbers.
Crowd: We are here in numbers.
Cyrus McGoldrick: We are here to pray.
Crowd: We are here to pray.
Cyrus McGoldrick: We are here to protest.
Crowd: We are here to protest.
Cyrus McGoldrick: And, most of all, we are here to raise our voice.
Crowd: And, most of all, we are here to raise our voice.
Cyrus McGoldrick: Please give a huge round of applause for yourselves.
Crowd: Please give a huge round of applause for yourselves.
Crowd cheers and applauds.
Cyrus McGoldrick: And please give a huge round of applause for occupied Wall Street.
Crowd cheers and applauds.
Another chant of "Mic Check."
Female Protester: I am here to occupy Wall Street.
Crowd: I am here to occupy Wall Street.
Female Protester: I am here to support Occupy Wall Street.
Crowd: I am here to support Occupy Wall Street.
Female Protester: I am here to stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.
Crowd: I am here to stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.
Female Protester: I will not remain silent.
Crowd: I will not remain silent.
Female Protester: I am an American.
Crowd: I am an American.
Female Protester: I pay my taxes.
Crowd: I pay my taxes.
Female Protester: I pay my fair share.
Crowd: I pay my fair share.
Female Protester: Others have to pay their fair share.
Crowd: Others have to pay their fair share.
Female Protester: I am Muslim.
Crowd: I am Muslim.
Female Protester: I am a New Yorker.
Crowd: I am a New Yorker.
Female Protester: I am a woman.
Crowd: I am a woman.
Crowd cheers.
Crowd prays.
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