King told CNN he has an obligation to investigate what he claims “is a real terrorist threat from certain elements of the Muslim community in the United States,” but critics, including Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison, say the hearings would demonize millions of law-abiding Americans if it hasn’t already.

The New York Times reports that King was the first guest speaker last month on a new cable television show co-hosted by Briggitte Gabriel- author and speaker on the threat of Islam in the US- and Guy Rogers –the executive director of ACT! and a Republican consultant who helped build the Christian Coalition group.

Gabriel’s TV show and organization draws on three religious and partisan streams in American politics: evangelical Christian conservatives, hard-line defenders of Israel and Tea Party Republicans, according to the NY Times. Critics accuse these three political groups as trying to demonize Muslims to silence the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians in justifying the atrocities committed by Israel.

On Sunday, Congressman King’s constituents gathered outside his Long Island office to voice their opinions on the radicalization hearings. The “Today I Am a Muslim Too” rally was organized by over 75 interfaith, civil liberties and nonprofit groups with over 800 protesters and activists attending. Imam Shamsi Ali said, “I am a Muslim but I love this country as much as any Christian or Jew loves his country.

Opponents of the hearings, including hundreds of Muslims, Christians and Jews, sang peace songs together and held hands in harmony in Times Square, despite the rain and wind. At the start of the protest, a young Muslim girl wearing the hijab sang the star spangled banner to the large crowd.

A small group of supporters countered with, "We support King!” Another pro-King demonstrator shouted that “the Koran encourages Muslims to kill infidels.”

Constituent supporter of King’s hearings, Richard Lazevnick, says "We are letting all sorts of people in, whatever they believe," he said. "If you do not believe in the American way, in our government and system of laws, then you do not belong in the United States." Statements like these have become lingering words in response to the successful spread of fear by Republican lawmaker’s similar to King. Constituents like Lazevnick are expressing their fear to Senators and Congressman that Muslims have a secret agenda to spread Sharia Law in the US.

There are over seven million Muslims in the United States with many analysts estimating that there are up to 10 million. King outraged Muslims and their supporters after telling CNN in a recent interview: "In 2004, I said 80 percent of the mosques [in America] were controlled by extremists. That was based on testimony in 2000 from Sheikh Kabbani, who was testifying in a State Department hearing. Now, I do not know today, if it could be more than 80 percent, it could be less than 80 percent."

King’s website features that same CNN story in which he repeats a controversial suggestion about the extent of American Muslim radicalization.

Representative Peter King is spreading one simple message to Americans, that the United States is infiltrated by Muslim radicals but Executive Director of the Islamic Leadership Council of New York, Zaheer Uddin, rejects King’s claims that 80 percent of mosques are controlled by extremists.

"There could be a few mosques. At least we do not know any of those mosques, if there are any," he said. "If Peter King has that knowledge, he should speak out about those specific mosques."

Uddin says only five percent of U.S. domestic terrorism is committed by Muslims, adding that his organization condemns their actions. Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, who is seeking to build an Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan, objects to Congressman King’s exclusive focus on Muslims and Islam.

"Extremism comes from all the faith traditions," he said. "There are American extremists and radicals as there are Muslim extremists and radicals. It is this cycle of radicalization that we have to bring an end to."

Voice of America reports that the FBI confirms that U.S. domestic terror threats range from white supremacists, eco-terrorists, to anti-government extremists and separatists. But as the year 2001 came by to single out Muslims under the Bush administration, 2010 and 2011 are making a comeback in American politics to demonize a single faith that makes up more than one quarter of the world’s population because of an extremism that the US played a major role in creating.