Arizona vet eyes legal action after Islamic page demands ‘immediate arrest and detention,’ claims death threats

November 24, 2015

Jon Ritzheimer, the Marine Corps veteran who organized a protest at an Arizona mosque, told the Conservative Firing Line Tuesday that he is considering legal action after an article at the Islamic Post accused him of making death threats in a video posted to a Facebook page.

The article also demands the “immediate arrest and detention” of Ritzheimer, claiming that it has been “collaborating with federal, state and local police officials who have increased patrols around its American villages particularly Islamberg, NY located 45 miles southeast of Binghamton.”

Ritzheimer, however, denies the claim, calling it “100% false.”

“If I made threats I would have been arrested,” he told me.

A report at ABC15 says:

“Whoo! What’s up America?” Ritzheimer says at the beginning of his newest video.

He is seen driving as a passenger in a vehicle. He says he is on his way to New York to confront writers at the Islamic Post, for calling him “the real terrorist.”

Following the terror attacks in Paris last week, Ritzheimer says he is ready for the terrorists, as he cocks his pistol.

“I’m urging all Americans across the U.S., everywhere in public, to start carrying a slug rifle everywhere,” he says. “Don’t be a victim in your own country.”

While ABC warned viewers to be careful following that advise, it reported no threat made by Ritzheimer or anyone else in the video.

The Islamic Post, however, saw it differently:

Residents of H. Islamberg have been vigilant on the heels of a Facebook video rant made by Ritzheimer on November 18, 2015. “We are driving all the way to New York to see those [expletive] at the Islamic Post who called me a [expletive] terrorist.” Brandishing a pistol Ritzheimer says, “We are [expletive] ready for ‘em! Bring it on you Muslim [expletives]! I’m urging all Americans to start carrying a slug rifle”, he yelled into the camera. Before being removed from Facebook the video had hundreds of “likes” and comments in support of the former Marine. Ritzheimer is in violation of the FACE Act which is the federal law which protects houses of worship from those who “intentionally injure, intimidate or interfere with or attempt to injure or immediate or interfere with any person lawfully excising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship,18 USC 248.

The FACE Act was originally intended to silence pro-life protesters at abortion clinics, but can also be used to protect houses of worship.

Tahirah Amatul-Wadud counsel for TMOA, is quoted as saying: “Ritzheimer’s rhetoric and incendiary comments and conduct will cause other misinformed citizens to act with violence and hatred toward their fellow Americans. We hold him responsible for any untoward acts that may result from his videos, pictures and calls to action against Muslims.”

The article also says Ritzheimer’s reaction is in response to a June 2015 article in which it referred to the Marine veteran as “an American Taliban.”

“The moniker American Taliban is what we give to American domestic right wing extremists who personify the behavior of the Taliban like those in Peshawar Pakistan who burn schools and kill children. Ritzheimer fits the bill by virtue of his orchestrated armed Mosque protests and inciting hate against Muslims,” said spokesman Muhammad Matthew Gardner.

There’s only one problem. At no time has Ritzheimer ever engaged in the acts Gardner cites.

Ritzheimer told ABC15 the reason for his message.

“They go after the weak, the innocent and the unarmed,” he said. “I don’t want to see any more bloodshed in this country than we already have.”

ABC’s video report can be seen below:

Ritzheimer told me he would be willing to pay an attorney two-thirds of whatever award he receives if he “planned to sue for $15 million like the clock boy.”

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