This is a short diary relating to the Mayfield, Kentucky "mosque controversy" featured on Countdown Tuesday night. For those that missed it, the Mayfield City Council rescinded a permit given previously to a group of Somalis that wanted to operate a worship center in a building 2 blocks from the town square. A business owner next to the site lodged a complaint, and numerous citizens opposed to the the "mosque" showed up at the council meeting on Tuesday to express their opposition.
I live in the area and was struck by one fact not known by the reporters covering this. The mosque site was most recently the Graves County Democratic Party headquarters.
Yes, the headquarters was located in this building until this past spring, after opening in 2008 just before the national election that year. With only 4 parking spots, numerous meetings were held by the local Democratic Women's Club, the local party, etc. I sometimes parked at the florist business that is opposing the mosque location, although meetings were after business hours. It is true that the office was rarely open much during the day, operating on a very limited schedule with volunteers.
I know some of us locally here are wondering how to organize a response to this controversy. The only citizens that showed up at the council meeting on Tuesday were those opposed to the mosque, other than a Paducah family that got there too late to be admitted, but was subjected to insults in the lobby after the meeting.
While the segment on Countdown suggested that perhaps the parking issue was "legitimate," I think it was very clear from reporting at the meeting that the citizens in opposition are going to oppose any location in Mayfield.
Any suggestions on organizing around this issue are greatly appreciated.