Kurtz
10-29-2007, 07:23 AM
The shockwaves continue from a small protest this month against a Muslim Family Day at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington.
A court hearing is set for today on a request for a preliminary injunction against the Florida man who organized the protest. And appointment of another of the protesters to a Carrollton board has ruffled feathers in that city.
Khalil Meek, board president of the Muslim Legal Fund of America, said the Muslim groups support the protesters' right to voice their opinions. What they object to, he said, is their allegation that the Muslim organizations, and therefore Six Flags, support terrorism.
The groups have filed a lawsuit accusing the protest organizer, Joe Kaufman, of defamation and slander and have obtained a temporary restraining order that prohibits him from harming, threatening or inciting violence against them.
Mr. Kaufman, president of Americans Against Hate, didn't return e-mail messages seeking comment, and no phone number could be found for him.
The city of Carrollton controversy focuses on the appointment of Paul Kramer to the city's Construction Advisory and Appeals Board.
Some City Council members said they were frustrated that Mayor Becky Miller, who opposed the appointment, allowed council member Herb Weidinger to engage in a "personal attack" on Mr. Kramer during the Oct. 16 council meeting.
They hope to build enough council support to have a discussion next month on the city's governance policies.
"I was really disappointed in how certain council members handled that in the open-session meeting," council member Terry Simons said. "I just didn't feel like it was right."
Mr. Weidinger declined to comment.
Ms. Miller said council members should be free to state their views and the reasons for their decisions.
"I think people have the right to express how they feel," she said. "I really don't think Mr. Weidinger was out of line."
The Kramer appointment was just one on a long list that the council was considering Oct. 16.
Controversy arose because he had just been pictured in The Dallas Morning News as one of 10 people who protested the Muslim day at Six Flags two days earlier. Ms. Miller wanted Mr. Kramer removed from the appointee list, saying she would be embarrassed to have him represent the city.
Mr. Weidinger branded the protest "bigotry" and called Mr. Kramer a racist, council members said.
But a move to delete Mr. Kramer's name from the appointee list failed on a 4-3 vote, and the council then voted unanimously to approve the entire list of appointees.
Mr. Kramer didn't return phone calls seeking comment.
Ms. Miller declined to comment on the council's vote or to elaborate on her reasons for opposing the Kramer appointment. She said the council had made its decision and the matter was over.
Ms. Miller and Mr. Kramer have been at odds before. In April, he publicly criticized her and council member Pat Malone for participating in Dallas' annual gay pride parade and circulated a petition opposing city officials' involvement in the parade.
Some council members said that while they may not agree with Mr. Kramer's personal political views, he has a right to express them. And they said his nearly 30 years of construction and engineering experience are needed on the construction advisory board.
Ms. Miller has long advocated diversity within the city. Council member Tim Hayden said her opposition to Mr. Kramer's views goes against that.
"The last thing we should be doing is having personal attacks against an individual," he said. "We want to be tolerant and compassionate to each other."
Mr. Meek, whose Muslim Legal Fund of America has offices in Plano and Richardson, praised Ms. Miller and other council members who questioned the appointment of someone involved in the Six Flags protest.
"I think as a public official that you have to use judgment," Mr. Meek said. "Even if you're allowed as a person to do whatever you want, you should keep in mind that as a public official, the things you do still represent your capacity of a leader."
Muslim Family Day (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-carrflap_29met.ART.State.Edition1.4207350.html)
A court hearing is set for today on a request for a preliminary injunction against the Florida man who organized the protest. And appointment of another of the protesters to a Carrollton board has ruffled feathers in that city.
Khalil Meek, board president of the Muslim Legal Fund of America, said the Muslim groups support the protesters' right to voice their opinions. What they object to, he said, is their allegation that the Muslim organizations, and therefore Six Flags, support terrorism.
The groups have filed a lawsuit accusing the protest organizer, Joe Kaufman, of defamation and slander and have obtained a temporary restraining order that prohibits him from harming, threatening or inciting violence against them.
Mr. Kaufman, president of Americans Against Hate, didn't return e-mail messages seeking comment, and no phone number could be found for him.
The city of Carrollton controversy focuses on the appointment of Paul Kramer to the city's Construction Advisory and Appeals Board.
Some City Council members said they were frustrated that Mayor Becky Miller, who opposed the appointment, allowed council member Herb Weidinger to engage in a "personal attack" on Mr. Kramer during the Oct. 16 council meeting.
They hope to build enough council support to have a discussion next month on the city's governance policies.
"I was really disappointed in how certain council members handled that in the open-session meeting," council member Terry Simons said. "I just didn't feel like it was right."
Mr. Weidinger declined to comment.
Ms. Miller said council members should be free to state their views and the reasons for their decisions.
"I think people have the right to express how they feel," she said. "I really don't think Mr. Weidinger was out of line."
The Kramer appointment was just one on a long list that the council was considering Oct. 16.
Controversy arose because he had just been pictured in The Dallas Morning News as one of 10 people who protested the Muslim day at Six Flags two days earlier. Ms. Miller wanted Mr. Kramer removed from the appointee list, saying she would be embarrassed to have him represent the city.
Mr. Weidinger branded the protest "bigotry" and called Mr. Kramer a racist, council members said.
But a move to delete Mr. Kramer's name from the appointee list failed on a 4-3 vote, and the council then voted unanimously to approve the entire list of appointees.
Mr. Kramer didn't return phone calls seeking comment.
Ms. Miller declined to comment on the council's vote or to elaborate on her reasons for opposing the Kramer appointment. She said the council had made its decision and the matter was over.
Ms. Miller and Mr. Kramer have been at odds before. In April, he publicly criticized her and council member Pat Malone for participating in Dallas' annual gay pride parade and circulated a petition opposing city officials' involvement in the parade.
Some council members said that while they may not agree with Mr. Kramer's personal political views, he has a right to express them. And they said his nearly 30 years of construction and engineering experience are needed on the construction advisory board.
Ms. Miller has long advocated diversity within the city. Council member Tim Hayden said her opposition to Mr. Kramer's views goes against that.
"The last thing we should be doing is having personal attacks against an individual," he said. "We want to be tolerant and compassionate to each other."
Mr. Meek, whose Muslim Legal Fund of America has offices in Plano and Richardson, praised Ms. Miller and other council members who questioned the appointment of someone involved in the Six Flags protest.
"I think as a public official that you have to use judgment," Mr. Meek said. "Even if you're allowed as a person to do whatever you want, you should keep in mind that as a public official, the things you do still represent your capacity of a leader."
Muslim Family Day (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-carrflap_29met.ART.State.Edition1.4207350.html)