Lightning rod anti-Sharia law activist Pamela Geller is applauding a New Hampshire man’s plan to organize a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in the Granite State this summer — and the organizer, a former Marine, says he isn’t looking for trouble but will be ready for it if it comes.
Jerry DeLemus of Rochester, N.H., said he is planning to hold a cartoon contest in late August on private property, though he said he hasn’t decided on a particular town or venue. He said it is intended as a “free speech” demonstration and an answer to extremists who threaten to harm anyone who depicts the Prophet Muhammad.
“My purpose is just to shine a light on what’s really going on in our country, and how we as a country are willing to give up our rights of expression when someone threatens to kill us, and how wrong that really is,” DeLemus, 60, said. He said he was inspired by Geller’s cartoon contest in Garland, Texas, last month, which was attacked by two would-be jihadis who were shot dead by security officers.
“I am glad to see other Americans organizing these events,” Geller said yesterday in an email to the Herald, adding she is “unable to attend this event, but wish it all success.
“Millions of Americans will not relinquish our freedoms to devout savages. I stand with them and for them,” Geller said.
Authorities have said three local men — Usaamah Rahim of Boston, Nicholas Rovinski of Warwick, R.I., and David Wright of Everett — were bent on beheading Geller after the Islamic State terrorist group called for her death. Rahim was shot and killed June 2 by an FBI agent and a Boston police officer in Roslindale, when authorities say he approached them with a military-style knife. Rovinski and Wright are in federal custody.
DeLemus is a Tea Party activist whose wife, Susan, serves in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. DeLemus made headlines last year as leader of a makeshift militia that faced down federal agents in a bid to stop the seizure of property from Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy.
DeLemus said he hopes his event goes off peacefully, that protesters will be welcome, and that he’s “got a pretty good security team that I’ll be able to put together.”
“If they want to bully me, well, that will be their choice at that point,” DeLemus said. “I certainly hope they don’t. I hope it goes completely peaceful. It will be as safe as we possibly can make it. I would hope the only thing that will happen will be a paper cut.”
DeLemus said his event will discourage obscene or distasteful representations of Muhammad.
“That’s not the point of it … certainly I’m not looking to hurt anybody’s feelings over this,” DeLemus said. “I wouldn’t care if everybody put stick figures up.”