Rallies against Islamic law draw counterprotests

Hundreds of counterprotesters marched through downtown Seattle behind a large sign saying “Seattle stands with our Muslim neighbors.” Participants chanted “No hate, no fear, Muslims are welcome here” on their way to City Hall, while police separated them from an anti-Shariah rally numbering in the dozens.

In front of the Trump Tower in downtown Chicago, about 30 people demonstrated against Islamic law and in favor of President Donald Trump, shouting slogans and holding signs that read “Ban Tony Murphy, Sharia” and “Sharia abuses women.”

About twice as many counterprotesters marshaled across the street.

A similar scene played out in a park near a New York courthouse, where counterprotesters made noise in an effort to silence an anti-Shariah rally. In St. Paul, Minn., state troopers arrested about a half-dozen people when scuffles broke out at the close of competing demonstrations at the state Capitol.

“The theme of today is drowning out racism,” said New York counterprotester Tony Murphy. “The more racists get a platform, the more people get attacked.”

The rallies, held in more than two dozen U.S. cities, were organized by ACT for America, which claims Islamic law is incompatible with Western democracy.

The organization said it opposes discrimination, but . the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, calls it the largest American anti-Muslim group.