Protesters Out In Force For Ahmadinejad

WCBS is reporting that protesters are already out in large numbers around Columbia University. Many of the protests are being led by elected officials and community leaders. There are a lot of very angry people who are quite willing to tell Ahmadinejad and Columbia exactly what they think of them.

 Large protests are expected at Columbia University, and some demonstrators were already out in force Sunday.

City and community leaders held a rally outside the university, along with by current and former Columbia students who are equally outraged. They say allowing President Ahmadinejad to speak sends the wrong message.

City Councilmember David Weprin said, "This invitation is a slap in the face to all New Yorkers and especially to those families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 right here in New York City."

State Assemblyman Dov Hikind added, "He should be arrested when he comes to Columbia University, not invited to speak for God's sake."

Some political leaders and religious groups have said Columbia should not give Ahmadinejad a platform. Among them are the head of the City Council, Christine Quinn, who has said "the idea of Ahmadinejad as an honored guest anywhere in our city is offensive to all New Yorkers."

Ahmadinejad has called the Holocaust "a myth" and called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." The White House has said Iran sponsors terrorism and is trying to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran insists its atomic activities are aimed at producing energy.

Also on Sunday, the wife of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared in March while on a business trip in Iran, appealed for Ahmadinejad to help in returning him.

"It is my greatest hope, and that of our seven children, that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will use his visit to New York to announce what the Iranian government has done to find Bob, and provide any information they have uncovered about what happened to him, where he is now, whether he is in good health, and when he will return home," Christine Levinson said.

I'm glad people are up in arms over this whole thing. WCBS has some pretty good video reports.