Bay Area cemetery removes banner from 9/11 memorial advertising Islamic section at Memory Gardens Cemetery amid community backlash

A San Francisco Bay Area cemetery removed a banner advertising a new Islamic section after it was draped over a 9/11 memorial, sparking community outrage. The cemetery owner stated permission was granted for signage but not for placement on the memorial. Residents expressed deep offense, with one calling the act “nutty” and disrespectful to the solemnity of the 9/11 installation.

A cemetery in the San Francisco Bay Area removed a banner draped across a 9/11 memorial that advertised a new Islamic section after backlash from the community.NBC Bay Area reported that the owner of Memorial Gardens Cemetery said he recently sold part of the property to a Muslim family, and that “he gave them permission to put up signage but did not authorize them to drape it over the 9/11 installation.“The owner reportedly had the signage removed, but community residents said the sign should not have been erected to begin with.NBC Bay Area reported that Danny Kimmel, a resident of Concord, California, said the banner advertising an Islamic memorial garden draped over the 9/11 memorial was placed in front of the cemetery where his mother was laid to rest.“I felt a punch to the gut type of thing,” he said, according to the report. “To see that sign on that memorial is kind of nutty is my thoughts.”Kimmel’s brother was killed in Vietnam, and he said his mother would be totally against the placement of the banner.“She wouldn’t just roll over — she’d get up and walk,” he said.Violet Kimmel, Danny Kimmel’s sister-in-law, also shared concerns.“There’s room for everybody, but just have a little respect where you’re going to put your things.”