LiveBlog & Live Stream - The Phoenix Mosque Cartoon "protest" 102 degrees @ 6:15pm PT RWNJ Cosplay

So along with Sons of Anarchy stars at Comicon in Phoenix, some cosplay will occur with RWNJs in 30 minutes, as Jon Ritzheimer tries for his 15 minutes of fame. Unfortunately, the bar designated for the rally's after-party has decided to close for the night, given the possibility that the bikers who are attending the rally might want to test their shooting skills with local police as some other bikers did at an event unrelated to blasphemy in Waco Texas recently. There is a counter-demonstration addressing the provocative nature of this action and at this writing outnumber the protesters. There is a significant police presence with controlled street access and air support. Kudos to the NBC affiliate for keeping a livestream going. Cops continue to do their jobs - must be miserable in dark uniforms and riots gear, standing around in the heat, keeping an eye on the armed protesters in their desert camo, but maybe they get hazard duty pay. Hopefully the demo won't last after the sun goes down, otherwise other craziness could ensue, much like any protest does when the cops decide the streets need to be cleared.

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ABC News Phoenix

Cosplay Is Not Consent.

What this means, for those who are unfamiliar with the phrase and the movement behind it, is that anyone at a convention dressing up as anyone they please should be treated with the same respect and courtesy that you would give them if they were dressed in their "street clothes."

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Organizers of the event, called Freedom of Speech Rally Round II, are advising participants to bring weapons.

“People are also encouraged to utilize there (sic) second amendment right at this event just incase (sic) our first amendment comes under the much anticipated attack,” according to a statement from organizers on a Facebook page.

The event is timed to coincide with the Friday night communal prayer, jummah, at the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix. Rally participants are encouraged to bring guns to the event, despite the organizer’s claim that it is a “peaceful” protest.

Only stupid First Commandment folks conflate Second Amendment privileges with First Amendment rights.

On Friday evening, a group of self-proclaimed “patriots” will demonstrate outside of the Islamic Community Center in north Phoenix to “protect [their] Constitutional rights to freedom of speech.”

According to the event’s Facebook page, the rally “is in response to the recent attack in Texas where 2 armed terrorist, with ties to ISIS, attempted Jihad.” The group held a similar rally on May 17, which organizers say drew a crowd of about 200.

During the protest, attendees—many of whom are part of the motorcycle group, RidersUSA—will march with signs and American flags. Event organizer Jon Ritzheimer tells New Times the protest will be peaceful, and that he plans to “pull the reins in on people who want to do stupid things like throw bacon” at the center. He will also be selling black T-shirts that read “Fuck Islam.”

Ritzheimer scheduled the rally to coincide with Friday evening prayer, and is encouraging people to bring cartoon drawings of the Prophet Muhammad to enter into a contest. (The winner will be selected during the “after-party” at a nearby bar, Wild Bills.) There will be at least “two state militia groups to provide security,” but he’s still encouraging folks to bring guns “just in case our first amendment [right] comes under the much anticipated attack.”