Congress to Hold Hearings on Threats From Radical Muslims

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee says affiliates of al-Qaida are radicalizing some American Muslims and that he plans to hold hearings on the threat they pose to the U.S.

Republican congressman Peter King of New York tells CNN's "State of the Union" that he sees an international movement with elements in the United States of Muslims becoming more radical and identifying with terrorists.

A Minnesota Democrat, congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the House, says that while it's proper to investigate radicalization, he thinks it is wrong to single out a religious minority.

On Sunday, groups opposed to King's hearings plan to rally in New York. President Barack Obama's deputy national security adviser will speek on the administration's approach to countering domestic radicalization.

NEW YORK (AP) — A coalition of over 100 interfaith, nonprofit and governmental organizations plans to rally in New York City against a planned congressional hearing on Muslims' role in homegrown terrorism.

The coalition says Thursday's hearing will send the wrong message to U.S. Muslims by "demonizing" them.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, entertainment promoter Russell Simmons and the imam who was an initial key supporter of plans to develop a mosque near ground zero are expected to speak at Sunday's rally in Times Square.

A group calling itself the Liberty Alliance plans to hold a counter-rally in support of the hearing.

The hearing was scheduled by U.S. Rep. Peter J. King of New York, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. It's the first in a series of hearings on "radicalization" among U.S. Muslims.