Local anti-American protests - New York News | NYC Breaking News

The local Muslim community here in the United States is condemning the protests. 

As violent anti-American protests continue to tear through the Middle East, members of the Elmhurst Islamic Center in Queens say that they not only denounce the protests -- they're praying for peace. 

Enim Khandkar reads from the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Prayers of love he hopes can out an end to the violence now plaguing the Middle. 

"We are American. We love people. Islam does not mean to hate people," said Khandkar. 

Hateful anti-American protests have now rocked the capitals of some 20 nations from Northern Africa to Southeast Asia. So far the violence has stripped several people of their lives and many more of their freedom. 

In Egypt, security forces there arrested hundreds of protesters.  

Muslims in Queens understand the anger but they condemn the protests. 

"What they are doing is really, really painful. We don't accept all of this you know. We don't believe in that because we want peace," said one Elmhurst resident. 

"The basic of Islam is peace and we are like ambassadors of peace like the prophet Mohammed."  

While Muslims in Queens question why the film mocking Islam was ever released – they say violence is never the answer. 

"You can protest, not violent, but injure people?  That's not the way to protest," said another Elmhurst resident. 

With all the violence in the world, Muslims in the Queens neighborhood say they're now worried that these protests could give rise to anti-Muslim sentiment here in the U.S.