Wakulla commission debates photo

A Wakulla County Sheriff candidate and talk-radio host questioned Monday the intentions of a group of people, who appear to be Muslims, observed praying on Mashes Sands beach over the weekend.

Freedom 93.3’s Will Dance urged his listeners to quiz Wakulla County commissioners on the group’s intentions at their Monday-night meeting. He said the sighting of "military-aged" Muslim men is cause for concern because of recent cases of religious extremism.

Dance said he is not opposed to Muslims using Wakulla County’s beaches to pray. He only wants to know more about them.

“People are concerned because this is not a Muslim doctor and his family out having a barbecue,” Dance told the Tallahassee Democrat. “The question is: Are these young men Americans wanting to assimilate or are they part of the faction of Islam that adheres to Sharia Law?”

His call to action came after Wakulla County Commission Chairman Ralph Thomas posted a Facebook photo of the unknown group on Saturday. The photo shows about a dozen people praying in the fashion of the Muslim faith on the beach. A caption states: “Walked up on this at Mashes Sands this evening! First time seeing this in Wakulla County.”

The image drew a barrage of comments from some who said the image invoked fear and others who reminded residents of the importance of religious freedom.

Thomas wrote it was “nothing more than to share an observance that I had not previously seen in Wakulla County.”

The debate spilled beyond social media, again forcing local officials into a public discussion of racial and religious prejudice for the third time in a year.

In early, December vandals spray painted "KKK" on three predominantly black churches, shocking churchgoers and residents and prompting the commission to adopt two anti-discrimination proclamations. Earlier this year, the commission put its code enforcement chairman Steve Cushman on probation after he made what some called anti-Semitic remarks on a Facebook thread.

Cushman was one of those quick to comment on Thomas' post.

"Don't worry they said," Cushman wrote. "It won't happen here, they said. Good awareness I say. Thanks Ralph."

Commissioner Howard Kessler defended the group and their right to practice their religion at the end of the commission meeting.

"Some of those comments are not very pretty," Kessler said. "I think that we all have an obligation to step in there and say, 'Hey, this is America.' These Americans have the right to do what they want to do, and if they weren't Americans and they were visiting our country they still have the right."

Thomas, who told the Democrat he was surprised by the reaction his photo received, said he was only making an observation and shouldn't be lumped in with those making harmful comments.

"I don't feel that it is my obligation, from the government or as an individual, to censor or to even condemn the comments of other people," he said.

Kessler said it's not censoring if you're standing up for the rights of Muslim Americans.

"I think we look at our elected officials to hold the high moral ground," he said. "I think we have to speak up and defend the people that most need defending."

Thomas stood by his post and how it revealed "difficult feelings" on both sides of the issue.

"I'll tell you that I am glad that I posted the photo," he said. "There was obviously a need for conversation. I simply posted a photo, nothing more than that."

Contact Sean Rossman at srossman@tallahassee.com or follow @SeanRossman on Twitter.