Controversial Imam speaks in Chapel Hill, protesters follow

More than 500 people showed up Wednesday night to hear a controversial Imam speak at UNC/Chapel Hill.

Feisal Abdul Rauf has been involved with the effort to construct a mosque and cultural center near Ground Zero in New York City.

The Imam's presence in Chapel Hill also brought an opposition group to town.

The Christian Action Network follows Rauf around the country opposing his views.

Once he took the stage, Imam Rauf decided not to make a speech, opting instead to answer questions - some of which were about the controversial project near Ground Zero.

It’s a project he claims is the victim of intentional misidentification by critics.

“The message was changed,” he said. “It was called the Ground Zero mega mosque. The branding by the opposition was deliberately made to arouse hostility to us.”

And some who came to hear him speak agreed.

“What people don’t realize is that it was already there,” said audience member Magda Ammar.

“It’s really a cultural center that’s been there. The only reason they started talking about is because they applied for a building permit to renovate the place,” Ammar claimed.

But the Imam’s presence in Chapel Hill is seen as rubbing salt in the wounds of 9/11 survivors.

“The Imam told us the 9/11 families were with them; he told me that personally,” said retired New York City firefighter Tim Brown, who is also the founder of Liberty Rocks Inc., a group that’s been a leading critic of the project.

“I continued to ask him, 'Which 9/11 families?' And he still has never come up with who they are,” Brown claimed.

Thursday night, Brown's group was among several sponsoring a screening at the Carolina Inn of a documentary that opposes the Ground Zero mosque.

“These particular people are disingenuous at best,” said Brown explaining why he follows the Imam around the country showing the movie.  “I will protect the memory of my friends. I will protect the families of my friends forever.”

But some who came to hear the speech aren’t sure about how big an issue it really is.

“I think it’s overblown. It hasn’t been much of a controversy since Obama was elected,” maintained audience member Donald Brennan.

Another man said, “It’s totally appropriate to be there.”

David Lederer added this explanation. “It’s a large city and an opportunity for people to understand where in a multi-cultural society.”

The Imam was paid $20,000 for his appearance Wednesday night.

That money came from a private fund for lectures on American Citizenship at UNC/Chapel Hill that’s been provided by the Weil family since 1915.

He will speak at Duke University on Thursday.