The majority of the crowd, including members of the group Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom, appeared to be for the new mosque.

People held up signs with messages like, “Freedom of religion means freedom for all religions” and “Love your neighbor.” Many wore yellow shirts that were passed out to supporters as a way of showing unity.

Protesters from both sides were respectful to one another, but there was a feeling of unease as police snipers watched on top of nearby buildings. Officers lined the Square on foot and on horseback, along with plain-clothes officers in the crowd.

The rally came only weeks after construction equipment at the new Islamic Center’s site was burned in a fire that FBI and ATF agents ruled as arson.

Charles White, an MTSU student who showed up in support of the mosque, spoke out against incidents like that.

“The problem I see with this situation is that you have those who say they’re worried about violence coming from a mosque being built, acting out in violence themselves,” he said.

White said Thursday’s rally was about respect.

“If you don’t like what someone’s doing, that’s OK,” he said. “You don’t have to, but at least respect them. Give them the respect they deserve because this is America, and this is the land of the free. If we can’t do that here, then what’s the rest of the world going to do?”

Jane Walsh, a mosque supporter, said she was disappointed with the community’s opposition to the project.

“I think we’re better than this,” she said. “I think we can all embrace our differences and show our children that we can do that.”

Lisa Browning, a Murfreesboro resident carrying a sign that read, “Love my America, but fear my government,” said she was against the new building.

“We just want to know where all the money is coming from,” she said. “We all have a right to know. Churches have to report it every year, so why can’t they report it?”

Michael Peck can be contacted at intern@murfreesboropost.com.