An event titled “Prayer March for Persecuted Christians” is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Orlando, Florida. Although the event’s intent seems unobjectionable, its sponsor’s ties to anti-Muslim organizations and causes suggests an ulterior motive.
The march is being co-sponsored by the Rev. Bruce Lieske and Alan Kornman of the Florida-based United West, a group founded by anti-Muslim propagandist Tom Trento. In a promotional flyer issued by the United West, they urged participants to attend the event because “Christians (just like you) are being slaughtered around the world by Muslims!” Trento and the United West already have a track record of hosting and attending anti-Muslim events statewide.
Austrian anti-Muslim activist Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff is scheduled to be one of the featured speakers at the event. In 2010, Wolff was charged with violating Austria’s hate speech laws after she made inflammatory remarks about Islam. Because of this, she remains a favorite among American Islamophobes who use her story to warn of what they believe is to become of the First Amendment. Wolff is also the leader of the Austrian chapter of the vehement anti-Muslim group ACT! for America.