WHO-AM radio host Steve Deace

Deace’s comments came while discussing the recent shootings at Fort Hood in Texas, a topic he has returned to repeatedly on his daily WHO-AM program and on his blog.

He first questioned whether those who have “sworn allegiance to Islamic ideology” should be allowed to serve in the U.S. armed forces. He later said the shooter “may have done America a favor” if the tragedy serves as a wake-up call that Islam is incompatible with military service.

He discussed the shootings with Walid Shoebat, an ardent critic of radical Islam and a self-described former Palestine Liberation Organization terrorist (a claim disputed by some Middle East scholars).

Later, Deace and Bob Deever, pastor at Grace West Church in West Des Moines, concluded that the military’s quest for diversity was a “recipe for disaster.”

Lastly, he interviewed Dave Gaubatz, author of “Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that’s Conspiring to Islamize America.” Gaubatz has drawn criticism for his book and for publically calling for a “professional and legal backlash against the Muslim community and their leaders.”

Sheila Musaji, founder and editor of The American Muslim magazine, said despite the fact that every major Muslim and Arab organization has condemned the shootings and offered their condolences to the families of the victims, many are still trying to use the tragedy to inspire hatred of Muslims.

“The suggestion that Islam is the problem can only be called Islamophobia, bigotry, religious hatred,” she said. “The danger in this sort of labeling is that it sets off those among us who are only too happy to have a scapegoat on which to vent their rage. It is an irrational prejudice that lumps all Muslims into one category — the ‘other,’ ‘them,’ ‘those people.’”

Abed Ayoub, legal adviser to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said Deace’s comments are simply hate speech.

“It’s garbage,” Ayoub said. “He’s prejudiced. He believes his race and beliefs are superior to others and wants to attack a segment of the population because of their religious beliefs.”

Since the shootings, Ayoub said his group has responded to a number of attacks against Islam similar to Deace’s, as well has a large amount of hate mail and death threats.When Deace tells listeners that Muslims have “declared their loyalty to a theology that we are currently at war against” then says America needs to “kill [the enemy] before they kill us,” someone listening could take that as a call to violence and “take it a step further,” Ayoub said.

“Everyone has First Amendment rights,” he said. “But we can’t have it escalate from hate speech to hate crimes. After Sept. 11 there were numerous acts of violence.”

If Islam is incompatible with military service, what about “all the other Muslims who have and are serving in the military and those that fought and died in Afghanistan and Iraq, Vietnam, World War I and II?” Musaji said.

“Was it in spite of being Muslims — or does religion matter only when a Muslim commits a crime, not when a Muslim is a good and productive citizen?” she said.

Despite comments from those who want to blame the shootings on Islam, the reality is that the shooter “betrayed his country, he betrayed his military oath, he betrayed his medical oath, he betrayed his religion,” Musaji said.

Ultimately, it is up to Muslims to counter statements by reaching out to people in their community.

“Most people want to know the truth,” Ayoub said. “They want to learn. Muslims have to make their voices heard.”

Calling the radio station and complaining to companies that advertise on his show can also go a long way towards combating Deace’s comments, he said, adding: “We have just as much right to be heard as he does.”

This isn’t the first time that Deace has been criticized for statements regarding religion.

In 2004, while he was hosting a sports talk show on WHO-AM’s sister station, KXNO-AM, he criticized Shawn Green, a Jewish outfielder who at the time played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, for missing an important game scheduled during Yom Kippur. Deace said Green could solve all his problems by “accepting the fulfillment of his Jewish heritage, recognizing his Messiah is Jesus Christ, therefore he is the atonement for his sins, no further need to jump through hoops, no further need to recognize or go through observances or rituals or rites.”

Deace said at the time that an executive with Clear Channel Communications, which owns WHO-AM, asked him to allow Jewish leaders a chance to present their views on his show. The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines declined the invitation and instead discussed the comments with Deace and station executives off the air. They also publicly called for Clear Channel to rebuke Deace’s comments.

In a statement to the Iowa Independent, Deace said he was confused why the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee would speak out against his program:

I wasn’t aware Islam was a religion unique to Arabs, since Iran isn’t even an Arab country and State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, who is a Muslim, is also not an Arab. Not to mention the fact my comments regarding Major Hasan’s alleged actions were based on his belief system, not his race.  Thus, I’m not even sure why the ‘American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’ has a comment on my radio program, but I am flattered by the publicity nonetheless.  All I ask is that if they plan on protesting my program could they please make sure to spell my name right, because it is spelled differently then it is pronounced and we are in a ratings period at the moment.

It’s also ironic that I did have an Arab guest on my show condemning Major Hasan’s actions named Walid Shoebat, but somehow the ‘American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’ missed that. If a representative of the ‘American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’ would like to come on my show to discuss my comments and the actions of Major Hasan, I’d be happy to provide them access to the largest media audience in the state of Iowa at their convenience. They’ll reach far more people with their message on WHO then they will on a blog, even one as well-funded as the Iowa Independent.

When asked about whether he is concerned that his statements could be construed as a call for violence against Muslims, Deace said:  “As a broadcaster, I take very seriously how my comments may be construed by the audience, and even try to anticipate that response before I give them. And I took that very seriously in this case. I’m sure I am just as concerned about someone using my comments to justify their own violent tendencies as Muslim and Arab groups are that people like Major Hasan use their religion to justify theirs.”

Postville had been known as a unique community for years. Home to the Kosher meatpacking company Agriprocessors, Inc., the city had a diverse population of Orthodox Jews, immigrants from Latin American countries, and native Iowans. Though the city always grappled with its disparate constituencies, the May 12, 2008, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at Agriprocessors changed things there forever.

News coverage of the raid generated more calls for comprehensive immigration reform from leaders across the country, but one open question remains: Will the experiences of Postville change things anywhere else?

Postville, a human face

Although ICE had been conducting work site immigration raids for years, the massive raid in tiny Postville struck an emotional chord with people who typically approached the discussion from opposite ends of the spectrum. (At the time, it was the largest single-site immigration raid in the nation’s history.)

Later in the summer, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus traveled to the town to see it firsthand. U.S. Rep. Tom Latham (R-Ames), whose district includes Postville, hoped it would be a chance for more leaders to see a real-world example of U.S. immigration policy.

“The members of the Hispanic Caucus will have seen firsthand, number one, the effect of the meatpacking plant owners and, what appears to be, them knowingly having illegal people working there,” Latham said in a July interview with Iowa Independent. “They will see the impact and the consequences of that. Most importantly to me, they are going to see how devastating this was to the families who have been torn apart — the human impact on these people.”

Three members of the federal delegation that visited Postville were noticeably moved by the stories they heard. U.S. Rep. Joe Baca, a California Democrat, rose from his chair, crossed the room and hugged one immigrant woman who shared her experiences. U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat, said, “I know this in all aspects of my life: This is a human crisis.”

Several Iowans delivered testimony to Congress about the raids including local attorneys, a court-hired translator who assisted with the criminal prosecutions of detainees, religious leaders and U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Cedar Falls), whose district borders Postville.

But a year later, the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform is still distant. Braley recently admitted that despite his wishes to the contrary, he does not expect significant immigration reform to go before Congress anytime soon.

Indeed, despite a massive demonstration in Postville, visits from congressional leaders, hundreds of prayer vigils, local calls for comprehensive reform, a Beltway regime change, and pressure from the various odd-bedfellows now working in concert to make good on the lessons of Postville, there are few policy improvements to show for all the effort.

Questioning ‘assembly-line justice’

The one aspect of Postville’s story that does seem to be having a national impact relates to the way detainees are prosecuted after a raid has happened, and the fight is being waged in the courts, not in Congress.

Most detained Agriprocessors workers were charged with aggravated identity theft, a criminal violation that carried a two-year federal prison term. The workers, who knew little or no English, were offered mass-produced plea deals on a lesser charge that carried only a five-month prison term. Legal representation was provided by criminal defense attorneys, hired by the government, who were charged with representing 10 or more individuals.

Although immigration attorneys outside the make-shift courtroom in Waterloo complained that they were not being allowed access to the detainees, federal officials quickly responded that criminal complaints trump administration (immigration-only) offenses. Even as they fled to other states, panicked residents of Postville told stories of inhumane detainee treatment and spoke of residential immigration sweeps.

Days later, when 76 percent of the 389 detained workers had signed the plea deals, federal officials came out swinging.

“It is unfortunate that those with their own agenda have spread misinformation — ignoring the fact that 297 people admitted their crimes and accepted the consequences of their actions. There have been no checkpoints, no random checks, and no house-to-house sweeps as have been rumored,” said Matt Dummermuth, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.

Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of ICE’s Office of Investigations, also derided “the usual spate of false allegations and baseless rumors.”

Perhaps because of the humanitarian public relations fiasco that encompassed an earlier immigration raid in Marshalltown, federal officials began mounting a defense at a press conference the day after the raid. It was first announced at that event that several detainees had been released back into the community. The move, which was initially welcomed by human rights advocates, would later become a primary example of government cruelty. The detainees, released back into Postville due to medical conditions or to care for children, could not legally earn a living. And, despite the swiftness of the earlier plea arrangements, the wheels of justice moved slow for those left in limbo.

The undeniably efficient criminal proceedings that took place in the days following the raid — plea deals that have been labeled as coerced by some who witnessed them — lit an immediate firestorm against an already tainted Department of Justice. Following oversight hearings in their U.S. House committees, U.S. Reps. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) spoke out against such expedited court proceedings, labeling them “a kangaroo court.”

“The assembly-line justice that we heard about today denies people the opportunity to assert asylum claims or get help if they were subjected to human trafficking or other forms of abuse,” Sánchez said.

Immigration advocates had high hopes when the new Homeland Security secretary, Janet Napolitano, announced that all raids would be ceased while her department crafted a new policy. But as information about the new policy comes to light, it is not clear that much has changed.

Still, a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision calls into question many of the so-called “assembly line” convictions by narrowing the federal definition of aggravated identity theft. The court ruled unanimously that suspects must have knowingly used another person’s identity to be convicted of the aggravated crime.

Since most of the Postville workers signed plea agreements on lesser charges and waived their right to appeal, it is not known how many of their convictions will be revisited, though many were initially charged with the crime in question. Still, as Congress seems to wait for other issues to quiet down before tackling immigration, recognition of the lessons of Postville is welcome, no matter where it comes from.

On Saturday three members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will visit with community leaders and families affected by the unprecedented May 12 immigration raid and take their findings back to Congress. On Sunday opposing viewpoints in the national immigration debate are expected to collide during a rally designed to call for comprehensive immigration reform.

“I wouldn’t say that we are anticipating trouble or violence,” said Postville Police Chief Michael Halse in a telephone interview Thursday evening. “But we realize that when you have two groups of people, each passionate about a message, there is a potential for conflict.”

Conservative estimates from individuals on both extremes of the debate have the town’s current population of 2,300 temporary swelling on Sunday to 3,300 or more. The numbers alone were enough for Halse to contact neighboring law enforcement agencies for assistance.

Halse said he’s spoken with both local and state agencies. To his knowledge, there will be no federal presence in Postville on Sunday.

“Our department hasn’t requested assistance from any federal agencies,” he said.

The rally comes nearly three months after an immigration raid at Agriprocessors, the nation’s largest kosher meatpacker and Postville’s largest employer. Nearly 400 workers were detained in the raid, most of them from Guatemala. Of those detained, 300 had pleaded guilty to criminal charges within 10 days. Since the raid, three members of middle management have been indicted. Two of those are remanded until a September trial date, but appealing that decision. The third has fled the jurisdiction.

The immigration reform rally will begin at St. Bridget's Catholic Church at 1 p.m. with a prayer vigil.

The rally, which was originally organized by Catholic and Jewish groups from Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, was advertised as a prayer vigil and march through the Postville community.

“[The rally] is a call for social justice,” said Sister Mary McCauley, pastoral administrator for the region that includes St. Bridget’s Roman Catholic Church in Postville. “This is a call to be faithful to our American and religious values.”

The Sunday rally, which was made public during a special City Council meeting when Paul Rael, director of the Hispanic Ministry at St. Bridget’s, requested permission from elected officials for the event. Since the vigil and subsequent march were planned on property that was either public or owned by the church, Rael was not required to obtain a permit. Organizing groups for the original rally are St. Bridget’s; Jewish Community Action of St. Paul, Minn.; and the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs of Chicago.

Gathering information and reporting the names of the organizations involved with the counter-rally hasn’t been as transparent a process.

The pro-enforcement rally is also scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at Postville City Hall, roughly two blocks north of the church.

Since the City of Postville does not currently require waivers or permits for these types of gatherings, there are no documents registered with the city clerk. Halse, however, said that he has been contacted by two groups: St. Bridget’s and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

Susan Tully, a national field director for FAIR, was a Thursday guest on the Jan Mickelson radio show and indicated that her group is planning a counter-rally. In addition a loose-knit blog coalition, Blogs for Borders, has been attempting to raise funds to send members into Postville on Sunday.

Tully, who did not respond to a media request from Iowa Independent, said in a prepared statement that her organization will be in Postville on Sunday “to show show that millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules applaud efforts to finally enforce our nation’s immigration laws.”

Latham’s office called into the show and corrected Tully’s incorrect reading of our story.  Our reporting was accurate, but Tully probably hadn’t read it.

To listen to the conversation, download the podcast and skip to about 1 hour and 7 minutes into the audio.  It lasts about 15 minutes.