“Riot” at Rye Playland When Muslim Women Banned from Rides Over Headgear

Nine law enforcement groups and a reported 60 police cruisers responded to reports of a "riot" at Rye Playland Tuesday afternoon after a group of Muslim women were denied access to rides because they were wearing traditional Muslim headgear, call hijabs.

LoHud.com reported:

"Police from at least nine other agencies converged on the park beginning at 3 p.m. after county police sought assistance in responding to the disturbance, which involved about 30 to 40 people. Twelve men and three women were arrested, mostly for disorderly conduct, and two park rangers were injured, authorities said. Two people were charged with felony assault after, officials said, they attacked park rangers.

The park was crowded with Muslims celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, one of Islam's two major holidays. Most were from community groups around New York City as part of a day-long event arranged by the Muslim American Society of New York.

Parks officials had “painstakingly” told the organizer about the headgear ban, said parks spokesman Peter Tartaglia, but he said that the rules might not have been communicated by the organizer to some attendees. The ban was implemented about four years ago to keep hats and other head coverings from landing on tracks and derailing rides. (see full story)"