MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee’s Federal Courthouse is listed as one of the locations for ACT for America's national America First rally.
Islamic Society of Milwaukee spokesman Munjed Ahmad said he was saddened to hear the organization labeled as an extremist anti-Muslim group by the Southern Poverty Law Center plans to rally in Milwaukee.
“It’s my hope that most of the people attending these anti-Muslim rallies are just ignorant and they’re not something worse than ignorant,” he said.
ACT for America’s websitesaid the rally is in support of President Donald Trump’s immigration and border policies. Two months ago, one of their anti-Muslim marches turned violent in Minnesota.
“I wish they would come, meet us, know who we are, visit a mosque and I think a lot of them, a huge percentage of them will then kind of differ in their views,” Ahmad said.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett told TODAY’S TMJ4 he is aware of the rally, but says the city has not received a permit request from the organization.
“I want to be clear, I don’t want any hate groups, I don’t want any Nazi groups, I don’t want any White Supremacy groups to be in this city,” Barrett said. “If they have a legal right to be here, they’re going to have a legal right to be here, but I want them to know they are not welcome in our city.”
TODAY’S TMJ4 spoke with an ACT for America organizer about why they decided to add Milwaukee to their list of rally cities. The spokesman had no comment.
