Muslims Plan Sept. 11 March on Washington

An Islamic group is planning what it calls a "Million Muslim March" on Washington — on the 12th anniversary of 9/11.

The American Muslim Political Action Committee says followers of the religion have been "victimized" ever since the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in 2001.

"The entire country was victimized by the acts done on that day," says a statement on the organization's website.

"Muslim and non-Muslim alike were traumatized, but we as Muslims continue 12 years later to be victimized by being made the villains. To this day, every media outlet and anti-Islamic organization has committed slanderous and libel statements against us as Muslims and our religion of Islam."

And Washington does nothing to help, the march's chief of operations, Isa Hodge says in the statement.

"Our government either sits idly by and does nothing to protect our freedoms or it exacerbates the problem with its constant war on terrorism in Islamic countries, congressional hearings on Islam in America, and its changes to the (National Defense Authorization Act).

The organization says the Sept. 11 march will be "an historic event," with Muslims demanding "that our civil rights be protected by our government.

"It is time for us as Muslims in America to stop being defensive and start being proactive by using our right to vote and our freedom of assemble and let our voices be heard by our country and the world," says Hodge.

On its website, the organization says its mission is to stimulate interest in political and government affairs among Muslims and find more Muslims to run for office.