Rep. Peter King (R-NY) has been a thorn in the side of the Muslim American community for months after his announcement of hearings on the radicalization of their community in the House Committee on Homeland Security he chairs.  With those hearings finally slated to begin on Thursday, protests ramped up this weekend in Washington, D.C., New York City, and elsewhere.

Now even the Obama administration is geting involved.

"We will not stigmatize or demonize entire communities because of the actions of a few," said national security advisor Denis McDonough.  "In the United States of America, we don’t practice guilt by association."

At the heart of the issue is King's insistence that the Muslim community is being domestically radicalized and poses a threat to the country.  His previous statements on Muslim-Americans (he once told Politico that there were "too many mosques in this country") have caused ire among civil rights organizations.

A coalition of 51 such organizations requested that King open up his hearings to include all radical groups, and not specifically target the Muslim community.  They fear backlash against the community may result.

King's response?

“The threat is coming from the Muslim community,” King said.  "The radicalization attempts are directed at the Muslim community. Why should I investigate other communities?"

The hearings are slated to begin Thursday, 10 March at 9:30 a.m. EST.