This Must Stop: New York Cannot Surrender to Extremism

What happened in New York this week has left millions of Americans stunned. In one of the city’s busiest public squares, a radical Muslim speaker took the microphone and, before dozens of people, proclaimed that “Islam is the religion all of humanity must belong to” and that “we will not stop until it enters every home.” His words—echoed by part of the crowd—were not a simple act of worship; they were a political declaration, a warning, and, in many ways, a provocation to the values that sustain the American nation.

The message was clear and disturbing: it was no longer about freely practicing one’s faith, but about imposing it. “Brooklyn must hear it, the Bronx must hear it, Queens must hear it,” the speaker shouted, urging the crowd to repeat his creed aloud. In any other context, this could be seen as an act of devotion. But in today’s world—amid a global rise in religious extremism and a deepening crisis of national identity—the episode takes on a far more troubling meaning.

A Warning That Must Not Be Ignored

The United States was founded on freedom: the freedom of speech, of worship, and of thought. But that freedom never meant opening the door to ideologies that seek to replace democratic principles with theocratic or authoritarian systems. What happened in New York is proof that tolerance, when taken to the extreme, can become weakness. Allowing public spaces to be used to promote religious visions that openly call for the global expansion of a single faith is not freedom—it is political blindness.

The danger does not lie in Islam as a religion, but in the individuals who use it as a banner to challenge the law, civil coexistence, and American values. No one should fear practicing their faith, but it cannot be tolerated that, under the shield of religious freedom, speeches are delivered that sound more like cultural conquest than spiritual devotion.

New York as a Mirror of a Larger Problem

For centuries, New York has stood as a symbol of diversity and coexistence. Its streets blend accents, religions, and cultures from every corner of the globe. But such richness is only sustainable when there is a shared respect for the rules that bind us as a nation. The moment any voice—no matter the creed—dares to proclaim that its religion must dominate all others, the delicate balance that sustains the American pact is broken.

The problem runs deeper. This is not just an isolated speech—it reflects a growing trend that spreads while local authorities look the other way. In the name of “inclusion,” many political leaders have allowed demonstrations that, at their core, threaten the cultural integrity of the country. That permissiveness is not progressivism; it is surrender.

Defending American Values

Congress, local governments, and law enforcement must remember that their primary duty is to protect the Constitution and the rights of all citizens—not the interests of minorities seeking to reshape the very character of the nation. Religious freedom is a right, but so is the right of every American to live without fear of being indoctrinated or intimidated by those who wish to impose a single worldview.

In times like these, moral clarity is essential. The United States must not apologize for defending its values. It should not be ashamed to affirm that its system of liberty—built upon work, faith, and the rule of law—is superior to any ideology that seeks to replace it. Neutrality in the face of extremism has never brought peace; it has only brought more extremism.

The Moment to Say “Enough”

The scene in New York should serve as a turning point. It is not intolerance to demand respect. It is not xenophobia to insist that personal beliefs remain within the bounds of law and civility. And it is not racism to defend the cultural sovereignty of a nation that has given the world its most enduring example of freedom and prosperity.

If the United States wishes to remain the beacon of the West, it must draw a clear line between liberty and permissiveness. The former strengthens; the latter destroys. And what we saw in New York—a crowd chanting calls for total religious expansion—is not a sign of freedom, but a warning signal.

New York cannot surrender to extremism. It cannot continue to be the stage where fanaticism finds room to grow under the disguise of diversity. This nation was built by men and women who believed in something greater than themselves: in freedom as a duty, not as an excuse.

Today, more than ever, it is time to remember who we are and what we stand for. Because if we don’t, others will decide it for us. And by then, it may be too late.