This nugget comes from a Justice Department report released today on the Religious Land Use andInstitutionalized Persons Act, the law passed in 2000 by unanimous consent, that makes it very difficult to use zoning restrictions and the like to prevent the construction of houses of worship:
For example, nearly a decade after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Muslim Americans continue to struggle for acceptance in many communities, and still face discrimination. Of 18 RLUIPA matters involving possible discrimination against Muslims that the Department has monitored since September 11, 2001, eight have been opened since May of 2010. This fact is a sober reminder that, even in the 21st century, challenges to true religious liberty remain.
As Ryan J. Reilly points out, there have been almost as many RLUIPA cases involving Muslims filed in the past four months than in the nearly 10 years prior.
What happened in May of 2010? The local community board in Lower Manhattan approved the construction of an Islamic community center near Ground Zero. Around the same time, conservative activist Pam Geller announced the beginning of a public protest campaign against the project, which Republicans embraced and most Democrats either capitulated to or went silent. The underlying message of the campaign -- and Geller's organization, "Stop Islamicization of America" was clearly sent. Any mosque in America is "too close to Ground Zero."
