The music producer has decorated the window of his New York City apartment with shapes that spell out the word 'co-exist'.
- August 26, 2010
AceShowbiz - Russell Simons is using his lavish New York City apartment to affirm his support for plans to build a mosque close to Ground Zero - he has painted the word "co-exist" on to the windows of his home.
The hip-hop mogul has been vocal in his backing of the scheme, which will see a Muslim holy site erected just streets away from the area of Manhattan where the World Trade Center stood before the terrorist atrocities of 9/11 in 2001.
Many residents of the city are outraged by the proposals, but Simmons insists the building will help heal rifts between communities. And he has now covered his apartment windows, which overlook Ground Zero, in religious and spiritual symbols to get his message across, decorating the panes with shapes that spell out the word "co-exist".
Simmons' pal Glen Friedman, who designed the peace-promoting signs, tells the New York Post, "This is compelling for Russell because he lives here and he's always involved with issues of people getting along. The debate... It's obviously for freedom. I don't have a problem with it at all. It's meaningful to have these signs at Ground Zero."
