Stake Out

ACLJ Calls on NYC to Landmark Ground Zero Site for Historical Purposes, Keeping Islamic Mosque Out

Business Wire, July 20, 2010

WASHINGTON -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which is representing a
New York City firefighter who survived the 9-11 terrorist attacks, today
filed additional written testimony with the New York City Landmarks
Preservation Commission (LPC) urging city officials to landmark the site
where the landing gear of one of the hijacked planes from 9-11 crashed
through the roof of the building. The ACLJ urges city officials to
landmark the site because it "stands as a symbol of America's strength
and survival in the face of brutal, sadistic terrorism."

The ACLJ represents Tim Brown, a decorated firefighter and first
responder, who survived the Twin Towers collapse and lost nearly 100
friends. The ACLJ also represents thousands of Americans who have signed
on to the Committee to Stop the Ground Zero Mosque - Americans who
oppose building an Islamic mosque on this site which should be used to
honor and preserve the memory of 9-11 and its victims.

"We're concerned that the City of New York is trying to fast-track and
sidestep a well-documented process in order to clear the way for this
sacred site to be used as a location to build an Islamic mosque," said
Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. "This is not a case about
constructing a religious facility in New York City. This is about
preserving a site in the shadow of the Twin Towers - where thousands of
Americans were murdered - a site where the landing gear of one of the
hijacked planes crashed into the building. To permit a mosque to be
built on this site is not only offensive to many Americans - including
family and friends of the 9-11 victims, it is simply wrong. We urge city
officials to reject the pressures of political correctness and embrace
common sense. This is not the place to build a mosque. It's time to
approve a landmark designation that will preserve the historical
integrity of this building."

In written testimony submitted to the LPC today, the ACLJ contends that
the site should be landmarked because of the overwhelming historical
significance of the building, its unique architectural features, and the
fact that the site may still yield discoveries related to the aftermath
of 9-11 that will be lost forever if the building is not preserved.

"The building links two distinct periods in American history," the ACLJ
argues. "It reflects the growth and rise of American free enterprise and
stands as a symbol of Americas strength and survival in the face of
brutal, sadistic terrorism."

The ACLJ notes that of the 22,000 landmarked buildings or sites in NYC,
some 6% have been designated because of their historical significance
alone. Among the structures landmarked for historical reasons: a
building that signifies the importance of the rise of the Labor Movement
and the struggle for workers rights, a site to promote equality based
upon sexual orientation, a clinic where Margaret Sanger, the founder of
Planned Parenthood, is remembered for her advocacy of abortion rights,
and even a building where the terrorist organization, Weather
Underground, detonated a bomb.

The ACLJ also urges city officials to comply with the New York City
charter and follow well-established procedures permitting the city's
Community Board #1 (C.B.) to conduct a full hearing and vote on the
matter before the LPC makes its decision, scheduled for later this
summer.

In expressing its concern, the ACLJ concludes that ". . . it is
precisely because of the controversy and political correctness
surrounding the proposed use as a 13-story mosque that the LPC may be
inclined not to grant landmark status and to do so without keeping the
record open for full consideration by the C.B. This would constitute an
abuse of discretion."

You can read the ACLJ letter here: http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/Executed-LPC-Submission_20100720.pdf

Last week, an ACLJ legal team appeared at a hearing of the LPC urging
city officials to landmark the site.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and
Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C
survival gear

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) ( subscribe to comments on this post )