By Mariel S. Clark
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — A Muslim-American civil liberties group, moving to address opposition to the Ground Zero mosque, has unveiled an ad campaign that features Muslim 9/11 first responders, according to the Daily News.
The series of ads, produced by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, includes a New York firefighter and an emergency medical technician recounting their memories from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
In one spot, a firefighter cries as talks about losing a close friend in the attacks. The words "9/11 happened to us all" appear on the screen and the man says, "I'm a New York City firefighter and I responded to 9/11 and I am a Muslim."
Another ad by the group, titled "We Have More in Common than We Think," shows Christian, Jewish and Muslim people talking about the "golden rule," CAIR said in a press release.
The spots were produced "to challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry sparked by opposition to the planned Park51 project in Manhattan," officials told the News.
The 13-story mosque and community center planned for 45-47 Park Place, two blocks from Ground Zero, has been the target of protests, lawsuits and anti-mosque ad campaigns.
Park51 has also polarized both voters and politicians — Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out in support of the center while others, including state Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have voiced their opposition to its location.
Nearly half of New York City voters believe the mosque shouldn't be built in its current location a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday found.
