Kevin Wallevand of WDAY TV out of Fargo, ND did a “news report” on an incident involving Walid and two Muslim youths at an Assembly of God church in Perham, MN that took place on February 24th. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also inserted itself into the story.

Aside from the fact that Walid was never contacted by anyone from WDAY to get his point of view, the debunked CNN hit piece on Walid from 2011 was cited by the reporter in an obvious attempt to discredit Walid and boost the accounts of the two Muslim youths.

Via WDAY:

Two exchange students attending school in Perham, Minnesota say they were kicked out of a church there when they questioned a nationally known speaker who says “Islam equals terrorism.”

The boys were kicked out of the Assembly of God church in Perham during a question answer period following a speech by Walid Shoebat. Shoebat says he is a former terrorist, and claims to be an anti-terrorism expert. He now calls Islam the devil and tours the country speaking to churches and schools – even collecting fees from Homeland Security.

CNN has exposed Shoebat, calling him a fraud. Today, the DC based Council on American-Islamic Relations contacted WDAY and said it is calling for a meeting with Assembly of God church leaders in Perham. hopes of strengthening interfaith relations and promoting understanding.

A few things… First, the students were told to leave after they stood up, asked several questions and made multiple statements. Walid politely responded and the two youths would not sit down and became quite disruptive. Yet, WDAY simply reports the accounts of the two youths without any account from the other side. As if that’s not bad enough, the reporter – Kevin Wallevand – injected the 2011 smear report from Drew Griffin.

However, note how Wallevand did it. “CNN has exposed Shoebat, calling him a fraud.” So, which is it, Mr. Wallevand? Did CNN call Walid a fraud or expose him as one?

This line would seem to indicate that Wallevand might be familiar with Griffin’s report being totally debunked. If he is not, due diligence should have required him to visit Walid’s homepage, where there is a link to a video that exposes Griffin’s report:

In an update to the story, Wallevand re-prints the same line right before announcing that CAIR has gotten involved…

CNN has exposed Shoebat, calling him a fraud. Today, the DC based Council on American-Islamic Relations contacted WDAY and said it is calling for a meeting with Assembly of God church leaders in Perham in hopes of strengthening interfaith relations and promoting understanding.

It appears that CAIR thinks the boys were mistreated by an anti-Muslim bigot. Check out how a press release from CAIR-Minnesota starts:

Exchange students forced to leave after they questioned speaker’s anti-Islam bigotry.

No, the Muslim exchange students were made to leave after becoming disruptive and not sitting down after their exchange with Shoebat, which included answers to their questions.

The Press Release continues…

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called for a meeting with church officials in Perham, Minn., after two Muslim exchange students were kicked out of an event for questioning the anti-Islam bigotry of the speaker, Walid Shoebat. Shoebat is a notorious Islamophobe who claims “Islam is the devil.”

That part in bold might be correct. After all, the title of Walid’s new book is The Case FOR Islamophobia.

The next paragraph of the press release…

CAIR-MN is also offering to provide the Assembly of God church leaders with accurate and balanced information about Islam and Muslims and to arrange for a presentation on the faith to church members.

Isn’t that interesting? Unless CAIR intends to include information about the background of the organization’s three founders – Nihad Awad, Omar Ahmad, and Ibrahim Hooper – any attempt by CAIR to make an “accurate” presentation at the church should be exposed for what it is – a fraud.