Oak Lawn, IL – There continues to be a noticable police presence at an controversial Islamic group’s conference held at a Hilton Hotel in the Chicago suburbs.  The group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, is holding its conference called the “Fall of Capitalism, Rise of Islam” focusing on topics such as, “Capitalism is Doomed to Fail” and the “Global Rise of Islam”.  A spokesperson for Hizb ut-Tahrir  says the group does not promote violence, but some terrorism experts claim Hizb ut-Tahrir has ties to Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The controversial conference attracted more than 500 people who came to hear the Islamic group’s message. Outside the hotel, several dozen protestors, many waving American flags, line the sidewalks, carrying signs that read, “Support Democracy. Support Freedom” and “Dont forget the victims of 9/11″.  At least two dozen police officers from the Oak Lawn Police Department and Cook County Sheriff’s Office have been on duty since 9am inside and outside of the Hilton Hotel, a few miles south of Chicago’s Midway Airport.  Oak Lawn police are using a local bank across the street from the hotel as its staging area for the day. Officers on duty include some with the Oak Lawn Bomb Squad.  No cameras or video equipment are allowed inside the hotel where the all day conference is taking place. The conference is open to the public, but before entering everyone must first pass through a security checkpoint,  includes a bag searches and handheld metal detectors by Oak Lawn police officers.  A police commander with the Oak Lawn Police Department says there are no reports of any major disturbances inside or outside today’s conference and no arrests have been made.  The conference is wrapping up for the day at 530pm central time.  Organizers are getting ready to hold a press conference inside the hotel to talk to the media.