Facing east, this cabby found an unobtrusive spot to park and pray on Morningside Drive, right before the big staircase descending down to the park at the corner of 116th St. An intimate zone cordoned off by nothing more than cardboard prayer mat superimposed upon a concrete block before an elegant and old iron Olmstead grate. No one gave him any mind. I’m not even sure anyone even noticed, a very quiet moment in a very quiet place. In a big and capacious city, there’s room enough for everyone and everything, including this temporary carving out of a ritual space, the life of the city simply passing by, unobstructed and unobstructing.
Perhaps you misunderstood.
There is a War on Islam in the USA and it is dangerous for Moslems to appear in public.
This man is brave and risking his life to be dressed like that.
This taxi driver was, no doubt, on his knees because the cops were harassing him.