Washington Times - Inside the Beltway - ACLJ "Quietly Taking Care of Business"

The following excerpt was published in the Washington Times on August 19th in Jennifer Harper's column Inside the Beltway.

THE MOSQUE MATTER

The caterwaul over the "ground zero mosque" has escalated into a shrill but convenient vehicle for partisan interests, political punishment and grandstanding. So be it. Bound to happen. But some are quietly taking care of business. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), is amending its recent lawsuit charging the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission with procedural violations stemming from their recent decision to essentially greenlight the $100 million Islamic cultural and prayer center.

The ACLJ will request an injunction on development of the site based on revelations that organizers "do not own the entire proposed site and do not possess the legal right to proceed with demolition or construction." The legal group is also demanding an environmental review, citing the project's impact on neighborhood character and historical resources.

"With every new question that surfaces, it is increasingly clear this mosque must not be built at this site," says chief counsel Jay Sekulow. "We'll continue to gather the facts."