Muslim Americans expressed both shock and sadness after a man who identified with an Islamic terrorist group rammed his truck up a bike path, killing eight and injuring several others not far from the World Trade Center.
NBC reports the New York chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations described the attack as “senseless” and its mood as “incredibly heartbroken.”
It called for Muslim Americans to turn to the ideal of service to reach out to those victims in need.
Despite the intense concern, Muslim Americans couldn’t help but think the attack will unleash an increase in Islamphobia and anti-Muslim violence.
“There has been a history of, sort of, blowback, and that’s obviously going to be something that people think about,” said Ali Najmi, a board member of the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, said to NBC. “But the primary concern is, usually, and is now, how we can best lend ourselves in this time of crisis.”
The attack happened just hours after police said it is investigating an incident at the Islamic Center of Twin Falls as a hate crime. The Idaho State Journal reports someone left a cross of butchered pig parts at the center over the weekend.
“Hate crimes such as malicious harassment are very serious and the Twin Falls Police Department takes these crimes very seriously,” Lt. Terry Thueson said in a statement.
At Stanford University, students taking part in a cross-cultural Diwali celebration found posters calling for a “utopian homeland for Whites.” The Stanford Daily reports the posters were from Identity Evropa, a known White supremacist group.
A report released earlier this week found that Muslim children are twice as likely to be bullied, according to Newsweek.
The report was conducted by four branches in California of the Council of American-Islamic Relations.
Muslim Americans say the best defense may be kindness.
“Ever since 9/11, we’ve become much less insular,” said physician Umer Ahmad to NBC. “We’re more prone to reaching out and letting people know who we are and basically trying to create those connections in our communities.
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RE: Muslim Americans Brace for Worst against Backdrop of Islamphobia and Racism: Do not white supremacists know they have the option to go back where they came from if they don’t like what’s going on here in America?
Thank you. We inadvertently left out Harry Caray’s name. It’s been added.
The article already stated the scout was fired.
RE: Muslim Americans Brace for Worst Sgainst Backsrop of Islamphobia and Racism: This a sad truth, even though I personally did not become hateful or ignorant to White people after the Las Vegas shootings. We need to become more educated about other groups before we make judgement towards them or any group regardless of who they are, who they sleep with, who they worship or who their parents were.
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