Lodi mayor cools to idea of a 'million Muslim march'

A division in Lodi's Muslim community appears to have put the brakes on the idea of a local "million Muslim march."

Lodi Mayor John Beckman announced Tuesday he was working on the idea of a peace march with conservative radio host Mark Williams, who has a program on Sacramento radio station KFBK.

After meeting with a few of the leaders of Lodi's Muslim community Wednesday, however, Beckman said a march does not appear to be a feasible idea.

"I can't find one person from the mosque that I can talk to," he said. "There are two distinct groups trying to do distinctly different things. I'm not sure (the march) is a good idea anymore."

Beckman said he had called in to Williams' radio show last week to take the radio personality up on the idea of a public rally by Muslims to denounce terrorism.

Reached by phone Wednesday evening, Mark Williams was undeterred by the news that the Muslim community in Lodi lacks cohesion, saying the important thing is just to get some type of event together.

"If it's me, the mayor and some guy named Muhammad it's a start," he said. "Everything begins with one person."

Williams said he isn't concerned about how big an event in Lodi is, rather just that a statement is made to show an effort is underway to take the Muslim faith "back from the extremists."

Williams has frequently commented in the past few weeks on the ongoing federal investigation that resulted in the arrest of five Lodi men.

Lodi father and son Umer and Hamid Hayat have pleaded not guilty to charges of lying to federal authorities about their suspected ties to terrorists, and three other men face immigration charges.

One of the men being held on immigration charges, Mohammad Adil Khan, served as an imam at the Lodi mosque before being ousted by the mosque's President Mohammad Shoaib. Khan's departure is one of several reasons why the Muslim community has become divided.

Another of the mosque's imams, Shabbir Ahmed, is also being held on immigration charges and Khan's son is the third detainee.

Other reasons for the split in the Muslim community include a lawsuit by some mosque members against supporters of a Islamic Center and reported differences on theological issues.

Just recently, two opposing petitions have begun circulating in the community; one expressing support for Khan and Ahmed, and another calling for their deportation back to Pakistan.

The community has been split for more than a year, and Beckman said it does not appear as if that rift is anywhere near being repaired.

He added he has sent an e-mail to Williams saying that he does not think a march is practical, and does not know when Lodi might host such an event.

Beckman and Williams' idea was for a march that would take place in late July. Marchers would begin at the Lodi mosque and end at City Hall.

Despite the idea of a peace march fizzling, Beckman said he still thinks there's a good chance some type of event will take place in about a month.

That event could be "some type of a rally," but Beckman said even that's problematic because it's hard to decide whom to ask to speak at such an event.

"Right now in the mosque they don't even have one person who can speak on behalf of the Muslim community," he said.

In discussing the idea with Lodi's Police Chief Jerry Adams, Beckman said the issue of security also came up. He said Adams felt that a mosque to City Hall route is so long it would be difficult to provide security for those taking part in the event from any groups that might come to Lodi to demonstrate against such a march.

Contact reporter Andrew Adams at andrewa@lodinews.com.

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Lodi mayor cools to idea of a 'million Muslim march'

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