Anti-war activists. Pro and anti-Islamic Join Rallies 9-11 Memorial Service

Pro and anti-Islamic Center demonstrators argue at a competing rally on September 11.

The streets near Ground Zero in New York, where a memorial service was held for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, have become the scene of competing demonstrations. Police patrolled the streets on the anniversary of 9/11 attacks as demonstrators from all backgrounds gathered near the site of a proposed Islamic cultural center waving placards reading, "Say 'no' to racism and anti-Islamic bigotry."

About 1,500 people marched in favor of the center near Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center prior to the 9/11 attacks, AFP reported.

Anti-war activists and those unhappy with the sagging economy also joined the rally.

Those who support the project said opposition was based on anti-Muslim bigotry.

Meanwhile, a block away, other groups rallied against the building of the Islamic center.

Attending the opposition's rally was Dutch hardliner and anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, who had flown in from the Netherlands to fuel the crowd with his radical beliefs, urging them to "draw the line."

Although the demonstrations gave way to some noisy debates from the two sides, no violent incidents occurred.

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The hate rhetoric swarming the US has left its citizens in a state fear. "I'm really fearful of all of the hate that's going on in our country," one of the pro-Islamic Center demonstrators told the Associated Press.

Earlier, in a White House news conference held on Friday, US President Barack Obama called on Americans to foster tolerance in society, describing American Muslims as "fellow citizens."