We must remember acts of kindness and solidarity in the face of Islamophobia

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A man holds a sign in support of his Muslim neighbors as he joins Bangladeshi and Yemeni Americans to protest against the Islamic State and political and religious extremism during a rally in a Detroit suburb. (Reuters/Rebecca Cook)

Written by Sarah Moawad
Co-editor, Egypt and North Africa, Muftah
December 25, 2015

This year has been filled to the brim with tragedy—from rampant gun violence, police brutality, and senseless mass shootings to the Paris attacks, ISIL, and the many bombings and drone strikes from Syria to Afghanistan (one of which struck a Doctors Without Borders trauma center). Seeing that we’re heading into an election year here in the United States, a flurry of sensationalist media coverage and hateful, dangerous political rhetoric has surfaced that is alienating millions of Americans.

Organizations like the Muslim advocacy group CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) have noted a troubling spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the past few weeks, as events like the San Bernardino shooting and alarmist rhetoric from presidential candidates have combined to embolden those already harboring bigoted and xenophobic attitudes. Muslims have been bracing themselves for the worst, creating crisis safety manuals and trying to prove their innocence through preemptive apologies and condemnations.

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The Muslim community is traumatized, its children beat up in schools and called terrorists, its women disrespected, its mosques vandalized. But, for our own mental and emotional well being, we must not forget the countless neighbors, friends, professors, doctors, and strangers who have shown solidarity in the face of bigotry. As we keep track of the hate crimes, let us also note the gestures that remind us of each other’s humanity.

Below is a partial list of the random acts of kindness and solidarity that have surfaced over the past few weeks:

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The American City Diner in Washington, DC.(Sahar Khamis)

http://qz.com/579991/we-must-remember-acts-of-kindness-and-solidarity-in-the-face-of-islamophobia/