Largest anti-Muslim organization calls off dozens of pro-Trump rallies for fear of counter protests

A Tea Party tax protest, April 15, 2009 in Atlanta; Donald Trump protesters in Chicago, March 11, 2016. (Credit: AP/John Bazemore/Charles Rex Arbogast)

ACT for America, the nation’s largest anti-Muslim organization, announced on Tuesday that it would cancel 67 of its “America First” rallies across 37 states and will instead lead an online “Day of ACTion.”

In a press release on Tuesday given exclusively to Breitbart, the group said it “is deeply saddened that in today’s divisive climate, citizens cannot peacefully express their opinion without risk of physical harm from terror groups domestic and international.” The group originally said it organized the rallies “out of an abundance of caution” because of “the recent violence in America and in Europe.”

“Given the security issues of organizing public events, the responsible decision is to deny this opportunity to Neo-Nazis, Antifa, the KKK, and ISIS inspired individuals and groups,” the statement continued. “ACT for America’s membership is patriotic citizens whose only goal is to celebrate America’s values and peacefully express their views regarding national security.”

Some of Trump’ so-called America first policies have centered around crackdowns on immigration, refugees seeking asylum and building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The announcement comes after a violent “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville first took place on the night of August 11 and poured into August 12. The rally was dominated by neo-Nazis, supporters of the Ku Klux Klan and far-right white supremacists who made their small presence loud and clear. Heather Hayer, who showed up to protest against the far-right fringe groups, was killed when a white supremacist plowed into a crowd with his car.

One ACT for America rally was scheduled to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett condemned any hatred coming to his city.

“My message to them is ‘We don’t want you here.’ We don’t want any Nazi groups here, any white supremacist or ‘alt-right’ groups who are coming because this is a city of inclusion,” Barrett said, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. “It’s not a city of exclusion, and it’s not a city of white supremacy so go somewhere else and bother the people there.”

ACT for America had planned “March Against Sharia” rallies in June throughout 28 cities. “Many of the rallies were widely attended by racist ‘alt-right’ groups including the “blood and soil” fascist group Vanguard America and the white nationalist group Identity Evropa, as well as armed right-wing militias,” according to the SPLC. The organization cited violence as a reason for their cancelations, but conveniently left out the fact that far-right extremists have participated in their rallies.

There are not a lot of details on the ACT for America’s scheduled “Day of ACTion” including what it will consist of, but it will take place on September 9.