New York (CNN) -- Protesters will gather Sunday near the site of the 2001 terror attacks in Manhattan to demonstrate against plans to build an Islamic community center and mosque a few blocks from ground zero.
The Islamic center's leaders say the $100 million facility calls for a community center including a mosque, performing arts center, gym, swimming pool and other public spaces.
It will be built near where the World Trade Center was destroyed by Islamic extremists on September 11, 2001. The attacks killed more than 2,700 people.
Some New Yorkers say an Islamic center near the site is a painful affront.
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Protests will take place Sunday from 11 a.m. ET, rain or shine, said the Coalition to Honor Ground Zero, which is organizing the rally.
Firefighters, families of the September 11 victims, first responders and residents of the neighborhood will join the protests, the organizers said on their website.
Plans to build the center near the site have stirred emotions nationwide. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released earlier in August marked nationwide opposition to the proposed facility at 68 percent.
"What that tells me is the wounds of 9/11 haven't healed, and I think if they haven't, perhaps we can find ways to bring about that healing by perhaps creating a situation where people will feel more comfortable," New York Gov. David Paterson said last week.
Paterson said there is no local, state or federal statute that prevents the construction of the facility.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/22/new.york.mosque.protests/index.html?hpt=T1