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Posted on 08/31/2011 8:59:13 AM PDT by markomalley
Police from several departments rushed to the Rye Playland amusement park in Westchester County after an altercation broke out between patrons over a tensions over Muslim headscarves.
The fight erupted after a "misunderstanding" between the park workers and some Muslim patrons over the park's restrictions on headgear on some rides, according to the Westchester County Executive's Office.
Apparently some Muslim women wearing the traditional headscarf, called a hijab, were denied access to some rides because of safety reasons.
"The incident erupted when some of the women tried to gain entry on rides that prohibit any kind of headwear, such as hats, scarves and flowing material, which would include hijabs," according to a statement from the executive's office. "The tour operator, the Muslim American Society of New York, had been notified well in advance of today's event-numerous times both in writing and verbally-the county's policy on headgear for certain rides at the amusement park."
The patrons were offered refunds, the statement said, but then some men and women started arguing with each other, the statement said, "to the point that park security had to intervene. In the course of restoring calm, two park rangers suffered injuries and had to be taken to a nearby hospital."
People were not allowed into the park between 4 and 6 p.m. as police and security tried to restore order.
Many people on Twitter reported seeing the police descend upon the park. Dozens of police vehicles and the park. Officers arrested and charged 15 patrons, according to the county executive's office. "After the arrests, park officials met with the tour operator to ensure that all members of his group understood the headgear policy," the statement said.
"This misunderstanding was very unfortunate," said Peter Tartaglia, the deputy parks commissioner. "Our headgear policy is designed to protect the safety of patrons and safety is our first concern. This policy was repeatedly articulated to the tour operator, but unfortunately the message did not reach some of the members of his group."
The tour group was at the park to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, a major holiday in the Islamic faith that marks the end of Ramadan.
Witnesses at the scene say a pair of girls confronted security personnel about the issue and one of the girls ended up on the ground in handcuffs. A group of men intervened and that is when things got out of control.
But some of the members of the group said that the rangers and the cops overreacted.
The exit ramps from I-95 into the park were also closed as police tried to get control of the situation.
The park is owned and run by Westchester County, the only government-owned amusement park in the country.
If I am a Luthern/Methodist Pastor, can I wear my robes and yoke on an amusement ride? Naturally, if I am injured - the park will be sued.
Charge the Muslims with assault and tresspassing, toss them in jail and let them consider the wisdom of their actions. The Park workers had no choice, as the loose clothing could endanger not only the person wearing the hajib; but a lose fluttering scarf could cause eye damage or blind the person sitting behind them.
Wasn’t there a recent story about a muslim getting decapitated by a ride because of her hijab?
LOL!
Remember, the county owns it..
Could we expect any other excuse? Damn...this is America. Everyone has a right to be safe. And if these women don't care about the safety of the rest of the visitors, they should not have come to the park. Let them go ride amusement rides back in their native lands and let those people be placed at risk from the possibility of flowing scarves in peoples' faces and getting caught in ride mechanisms..
However, Obama will probably invite them all to a beer... or kofta and spinach summit.
This can be easily solved. We shouldn’t discriminate against these poor misunderstood muslims. Remove all the chain and belt guards and require them to sign a waiver.
Hey, at 1:04 in the video, is that Snookie in a hajib?
They should count their blessings they are in America. Saudi police would have beaten and arrested them for being in public with males not their relatives.
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“Wasn’t there a recent story about a muslim getting decapitated by a ride because of her hijab?”
I say let em ride.
AMERICANS FOR A MUSLIM FREE AMERICA.
WE LEARNED ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAM ON 9/11
NOTE TO CIA:
Riding that sorry old wooden Roller Coaster in a hijab might be considered instead of water boarding. Waddyathink? Hey I would sing like a canary!
Helping TERRORISTS since the being of TIME!!
yep, they keep this crap up until the local country gives them their way and puts the host country at risk..just say no, and don’t come back...
Every “moderate” Muslim is a potential terrorist. The belief in Islam is like a tank of gasoline. It looks innocuous, until it meets the fire. For a “moderate” Muslim to become a murderous jihadist, all it takes is a spark of faith.
Ali Sini
Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said he had a one-on-one meeting with Obama, where Obama told him that He was still a Muslim, and that he was sympathetic towards the Muslim agenda. http://beforeitsnews.com/story/76/647/Egyptian_minister:_Obama_told_me_he_is_a_Muslim.html
'Remembering 9/11' all week on the National Geographic channel.
Westchester County is populated by the fabulously wealthy, and the illegals that serve them. See also Fairfield County next door. Both counties still pawn Lawn Guyland.
It made me think of Isadora Duncan, the actress, who’s scarf got caught in the wheel of her car, and it broke her neck. Killing her. It is a safety issue. Period. Just like the warning about obese people not being able to ride, because the safety bars can’t secure them properly.
Say, how did Rye, NY fare in the hurricane?
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