https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/35edcb3499a8c353a59c3aac3a562ac1.png 848cb816a44545006a84022dde43c9bc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource Roxbury Mosque [Online image]. (2008, November 18). Retrieved from <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RoxburyMosque2.JPG">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RoxburyMosque2.JPG</a> https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/8193dec287dbf0afc266e1465e53c984.png a3409473411360dc26d940c1035bbedd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource ISBCC Inauguration [Online image]. (2009, June 28). Retrieved from <a href="http://pluralism.org/images/isbcc-inauguration.">http://pluralism.org/images/isbcc-inauguration</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Massachusettes Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ma_01 Location The location of the interview Roxbury, MA Date October 2003-June 2009 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. Initially formed by a group of college students, the ISB expanded to be the largest Muslim organization in the Greater Boston area. For seventeen years, they struggled to build an Islamic Cultural Center on land they had rightfully purchased. In the mid-2000s, the ISB was entangled in a plethora of public complaints and lawsuits; most were centered around charges that leaders in the Muslim community had connections to terrorist groups. Despite support from both government officials and residents of Boston, the ISB’s project was temporarily delayed. The Islamic Cultural Center was in full operation by the summer of 2009. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 100 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury, MA 02120 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 8WJ4+8M Coordinates Enter the coordinates for the location, if they are available. 42° 19' 52.878'' N, 71° 5' 36.9276'' W Proposed Project The 68,000 square foot Islamic Cultural Center, which can hold roughly three thousand people, includes a mosque, school, morgue, library, store, halls, and much more inside. Most of the 1.9 acres bought and $15.6 million spent was used for the construction of the mosque and school. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://isbcc.org/">The Islamic Society of Boston</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign/Protest and Legal Campaign/Lawsuit Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved as proposed; delayed Current Status: As of 2019, the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center is still operating smoothly and thousands of congregants attend their religious services every week. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In the early 1980s, a group of Muslim college students collaborated to form the Islamic Society of Boston to unite the various Muslim Students’ Associations across universities near Boston. The MSAs at local universities were very diverse, and anyone who identified as Muslim was welcomed. As the ISB expanded in population, there was a need for a physical location to congregate at; thus, they began dedicating efforts towards purchasing and building community centers. The first community center, located in Cambridge, MA, was renovated and finalized in 1994 without much opposition. Unfortunately for the ISB, their second project was far more difficult to complete. In the fall of 1992, the ISB negotiated a deal with the City of Roxbury, a neighborhood within Boston, that facilitated the purchase of the land where the Islamic Cultural Center was proposed to be built on. The purchase price ISB negotiated with the city was below market value. The Boston Redevelopment Authority insisted that there was adequate reasoning in granting the ISB a significantly lower price — the BRA believed that the mission and objectives of the ISB would economically benefit the local community, therefore justifying the steep discount. Nonetheless, it would take the ISB until 2002 to finally begin to build the Islamic Cultural Center; given the ISB’s vision to build a mosque, school, library, and much more within the ICC, the cost of the project impeded building plans between 1992 and 2002. The ISB struggled to garner the funds required for the construction of the project, and talks with city officials to resolve legal nuances and explain zonal development requirements only proceeded after the money was secured. The first official lawsuit against the Islamic Society of Boston was filed in September 2004 by James Policastro, a resident of Roxbury (Policastro v. Boston. No 044279C). His concern was not the religious beliefs behind the ISB, but rather that the city of Boston has unconstitutionally subsidized religion by accepting a price that differs substantially from the market value (Albright 2006). Policastro’s lawsuit was dropped by a state judge due to nominal evidence and precedent. Even though anti-Islamic interest groups were unable to legally challenge the project, opponents continued to mobilize against it. One particular organization that gained notoriety was Citizens for Peace and Tolerance (CTP) claiming the ISB was a radicalized branch of Islam in America (The Case Against the Islamic Society of Boston, 2016). In October 2004, CTP requested the City of Boston begin an investigation into anti-Israeli violence and ideologies. A letter by the ISB adamantly denying the accusations curtailed concerns. In response to persistent accusations, in May of 2005, the ISB decided to launch a reverse lawsuit against 16 institutions, including the CPT and local Boston media outlets on the basis of defamation and libel (Ballou 2007). During the lawsuit, heated argumentation in court and countless evidence dumps by both the ISB and the defendants further heightened the tension between the two parties; neither side was willing to admit defeat for two long years. In May of 2007, following the completion of the first stage of the mosque’s construction, the ISB dropped its lawsuit on all 16 institutions. Despite the protracted history of the public dispute, the 24 months following May of 2007 were peaceful. Vocal outcries by a minority still persisted, but these failed to gain traction in comparison to the mass public support of the Islamic Cultural Center. As the ICC’s doors were ceremonially opened in June of 2009, many local Muslims believed they finally triumphed in their quest of having a religious facility that heralds their presence (Paulson June 2009). Perhaps what was even more surprising was the eventual acceptance by seemingly the entire community; with local residents, rabbis, and Muslims all at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the ICC was ultimately embraced by the people of Roxbury and Greater Boston, even those that were initially skeptical. Looking back at the ISBCC in 2019, the project was definitely a success. However, there were some nerve-wracking moments; after the Boston Marathon bombings, significant hatred was directed towards the ICC — as the Tsarnaev brothers frequented the ICC, direct links of terrorism and the ISB were evoked. Nonetheless, the ISB Spiritual Board refused to concede to false narratives. Through a carefully crafted six-step plan (Mogahed 2017), the ISB was able to neutralize its reputation, rebuke any incorrect notions produced out of spite, and boost its public image. With ambitious yet situationally aware leaders at the helm of the ISB, the ISBCC continues to attract more and more attendees every year. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul><li>Abel, D. (2007, June 28). In Roxbury, a call for religious tolerance - Interfaith groups at mosque site. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020070628e36s0005x&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020070628e36s0005x&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> <li>Albright, C. (2006, May 3). Boston Neighborhood Split on Mega-Mosque. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5379448">https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5379448</a>.</li> <li>Ballou, B. (2007, June 10). Canopy's rise signals end of mosque's plight. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020070611e36a0000b&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020070611e36a0000b&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> <li>Barlow, R. (2007, August 11). Boston takes on new religious profile. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020070813e38b0001y&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020070813e38b0001y&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> <li>DeMarco, P. (2002, November 8). A Mosque in the Making Ground Broken in Roxbury for Islamic Center. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=bstngb0020021108dyb8000c3&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=bstngb0020021108dyb8000c3&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> <li>Haq, H. (2009, May 10). Welcome Message ; After 20 years and a flurry of lawsuits, Boston Muslims quietly opened New England's largest mosque in September. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020090622e55a0007r&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020090622e55a0007r&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> <li>Mogahed, D. (Ed.). (2017, July 1). Reimagining Muslim Spaces. Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.ispu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/RMS-ISBCC-Crisis-Management.pdf">https://www.ispu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/RMS-ISBCC-Crisis-Management.pdf</a>.</li> <li>Paulson, M. (2008, September 15). Making peace, and prayers ; Mosque opens its doors as controversy fades. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020080915e49f0003o&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020080915e49f0003o&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> <li>Paulson, M. (2009, June 26). A call to prayer, a long quest fulfilled. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/26/muslim_community_to_celebrate_mosque8217s_ceremonial_opening">http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/26/muslim_community_to_celebrate_mosque8217s_ceremonial_opening</a>.</li> <li>Paulson, M. (2009, January 19). United in prayers Inauguration messages transcend faiths. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020090119e51j0000u&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020090119e51j0000u&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> <li>Spitzer, T. (2009, July 5). Mosque's opening a milestone to be celebrated. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020090713e575000ky&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a">https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/du/article.aspx/?accessionno=BSTNGB0020090713e575000ky&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=&cat=a</a>.</li> </ul>Additional Materials <ul><li>The Case Against the Islamic Society of Boston. (2016, April). Americans for Peace and Tolerance. Boston. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.peaceandtolerance.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/05/v2-FINAL-June-2016.pdf">https://www.peaceandtolerance.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/05/v2-FINAL-June-2016.pdf</a>.</li> <li>Wells, J. (2003, October 28). Radical Islam: Outspoken cleric, jailed activist tied to new Hub mosque. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1009964/posts">https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1009964/posts</a>.</li> <li>Pipes, D. (2003, Oct 29). The Islamic Society of Boston & the Politicians' Red Faces. Updated Jun 22, 2016. DanielPipes.org [Blog]. Retrieved from. <a href="http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2003/10/the-islamic-society-of-boston-the">http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2003/10/the-islamic-society-of-boston-the</a>.</li> </ul>Video: The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (2017, November 2). How a Mosque Managed a Crisis [Video File]. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLolxllXMnU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLolxllXMnU</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Roxbury, MA Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource David Hu Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. MA_01, occurring in Roxbury, MA, 02120 from October 2003 to June 2009. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource David Hu