State Capitol police put out a warning Monday about a Martinez man planning an unpermitted,gun-toting, anti-Islam rally outside the statehouse on April 18.
The organizer has promised to shred a Koran as part of the event.
“The Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Building Authority anticipate a non-permitted, anti-Islamic protest on the sidewalks of the Georgia State Capitol,” said Capitol Police Director Lewis G. Young, in his advisory to state employees. “You are hereby notified that protest organizers have encouraged their participants to carry loaded long guns.
“DPS is currently monitoring the threat risk and, together with GBA, is taking precautions to make Capitol Hill a safe environment,” it continued.
The Georgia Building Authority had earlier turned down a request for a permit for a “United against Islam and Islamic immigration refugee rally” at Liberty Plaza from James Stachowiak, who dubs himself the founder and editor of “Freedom Fighter Radio.”
In a February email obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Stachowiak says the rally is to “raise public awareness to what we perceive as a threat to our nation from Islamic immigration and refugees. Also the dangerous agenda of the current administration.
“We plan to have speakers address this or should I say these issues. We also plan to shred images of Obama, Loretta Lynch, Hillary Clinton and Muhammad along with the shredding of the Koran.
“This will be an open carry event with the use of long arms as Georgia law allows.”
Stachowiak said those attending the rally would march on the sidewalks to the front of CNN “and speak again against the threat of Islamic immigration and refugees and the dangerous agenda of the Obama administration.” He added that “A Koran will be desecrated on the sidewalks on the public right of away (sic) at the front entrance of CNN.”
Stachowiak predicted 200 would attend.
Steve Stancil, head of the Georgia Building Authority, did not give a reason for turning down the Liberty Plaza permit request. But GBA officials said it is unusual to turn a request down.
Gun-toting rallies aren’t necessarily unusual at the Capitol. Armed supporters of gun-rights have held events outside the Capitol in the past.
Last summer Stachowiak brought an assault rifle and pistol to the Augusta Mall area - he said to help protect those in nearby military recruiting offices - after five servicemen were killed during a July 16 shooting rampage by Kuwait-born Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez in Chattanooga. Stachowiak stood in front of an anti-Islamic sign, and the Imam of a Martinez Islamic center said the center reported him to the FBI.
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