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Retired Justice Stevens defends plans for Islamic center By  Bill Mears , CNN Supreme Court Producer STORY HIGHLIGHTS John Paul Stevens says Muslims should be able to build, even near ground zero Experiences of World War II gave insight into need to fight prejudice, he says Plans for Islamic center have drawn protest from 9/11 victims' families Constitution protects from guilt by association, Stevens says Washington (CNN)  -- Retired Justice John Paul Stevens expressed support Thursday for a planned Islamic community center near the site of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York, urging religious and ethnic tolerance. "American Muslims should enjoy the freedom to build their places of worship wherever permitted by local zoning laws," the retired Supreme Court jurist said at a luncheon where he was honored by the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation. The 90-year-old said his experiences as a veteran of World War II, when the United States was fighti...