USA: 'Ground Zero mosque' opens with no protests as art exhibit of world's kids goes on display

NYChildren, as the exhibit was titled, was as much a tribute to New York City's diversity as a display of mere photographs. It includes snapshots of a city children representative of 160 ethnicities from around the world.

Photo: RT America

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Daily News
By Mike Jaccarino | September 22, 2011

The so-called Ground Zero mosque, where proponents of religious freedom clashed with conservative pols and the families of 9/11 victims for nearly two years, opened Wednesday without controversy.

Instead of protesters, who tried to shut down the Park51 center several times, spectators milled about the center before entering to view a photographic exhibition.

NYChildren, as the exhibit was titled, was as much a tribute to New York City's diversity as a display of mere photographs. It includes snapshots of a city children representative of 160 ethnicities from around the world.

The photographs were compiled by a 44-year-old Jewish shutterbug from Brooklyn, Danny Goldfield.


Meanwhile, the developer behind the cultural center conceded he was partly to blame for the virulent opposition the project has encountered.

"We made incredible mistakes," Sharif El-Gamal told The Associated Press in an interview in his Manhattan office. "The biggest mistake we made was not to include 9/11 families."

At first, "We didn't understand that we had a responsibility to discuss our private project with family members that lost loved ones," he said.

He added that he did not "really connect" with community leaders and activists while planning the project.

El-Gamal added that the center's advisory board now includes at least one relative of a 9/11 victim.


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