MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) – You can find a job, an apartment, even a date on craigslist. Now, you can also join a movement to keep Islam from invading America. An anti-Islamic group is posting ads on the website to draw like-minded people in the Mid-South to its cause.
To many, it's a blatant example of Islam phobia. To others, it's a harsh truth many are unwilling to consider. The headline for the ad reads "The fight for freedom has begun.” But many say the group's aims take away from the very freedoms America upholds.
“Islam is based on Sharia law, which is a system of governance set out solely to conquer the world,” said Bill Turner.
If there's anyone trying to keep that from happening, it's Bill Turner, National Director of the USA Defence League (as in the British spelling). They're now accepting recruits in the Mid-South.
“The United States of America Defence League was created solely to educate Americans on what is going on with the risk of Islam is to them. To be able to go out stop the spread of inappropriate Islamic materials in schools and stop mosques in their community,” Turner said.
That's happening right now in Murfreesboro where efforts to build a mosque have stalled.
In Memphis, people we talked with say fears of an Islamic takeover are laughable, calling is "a step back."
“It's sad. It's sad,” said Steve Stone, pastor of Heartsong Church, which is working alongside Muslims to build a park. The congregation even allowed Muslims to worship in its church building.
“This whole thing about Sharia is such a misunderstanding,” Stone said.
The Defence League says he's got it wrong.
“Being able to come into a Christian Church and hold services shows a sign of superiority for Islam,” Turner said.
“When people let fear and ignorance cause them to make decisions, they're usually terrible decisions,” Stone said.
Love it or hate it, the USA Defence League says several people are responding to their online recruitment ads. Many, they say, want to join the organization.
