From April to November of 2012, my final months of studying journalism at Ryerson University, I was working on this story for the Ryerson Review of Journalism, a magazine circulated across Canada that tackles critical issues in national journalism. Last … Continue reading
The headline of Pamela Geller’s latest blog post reads “Takbir! NYC Traffic Snarled By Muslim Cabbies Stopping To Pray.” Geller finds it upsetting that Muslim cab drivers park their yellow taxis on the sides of the roads, and pray on … Continue reading
TLC’s new reality show, “All-American Muslim,” has sparked lots of debate amongst the Muslim community in America. But in Canada, viewers failed to understand the hype and the controversy. Read my piece about Canadian’s’ reactions to the show, and their … Continue reading
In one of Pamela Geller’s recent blog posts, she attacks Muslim women wearing the keffiyeh in the photo below, calling it a “war scarf:” I was appalled. The keffiyeh is often worn by celebrities and youth in the West, for … Continue reading
In her latest disillusioned rant, Pamela Geller attacks Kim Kardashian, who is in Dubai this week to launch her fragrance at Sephora, and promote the opening of Millions of Milkshakes at Dubai Mall. “Instead of being a role model and … Continue reading
“One nation under God, not Allah,” yells a girl who looks like she’s no more than 15 years old, to a Muslim couple and their young son as they enter a fundraising event. She then poses with another protester as a news camera films them, and shouts, “Get out of here! Never forget 9/11!”
In a shocking portrayal of hate and Islamophobia, protestors gathered outside the Yorba Linda Community Centre and slandered Muslim families who were attending a charity event hosted by ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America), to raise money for women’s shelters and other social programs aiming to fight poverty in the United States.
This event took place on Sunday, February 13th of this year– less than a month ago, and since then, this video has gone viral. It’s extremely upsetting to see events like this unfold in a pluralistic and democratic society, especially one that prides itself on being open and accepting to all races and religions. “Take your Sharia law and go home,” yells one protester. The charity event was not to promote sharia law in the United States, it was to raise money for the helpless and impoverished. The behaviour of some of the protestors was downright disrespectful and shameful, and the fact that the protest was supported by local politicians further shows the spite and ignorance that remains in some Americans today, a decade after the 9/11 terrorism attacks.
Though it’s been said by countless Muslim American speakers over the past ten years, the words are fitting to this event. Islam is a religion of peace, and you cannot judge an entire religion on the actions of a few extremists. Using an extremist stereotype as an umbrella for all Muslims living in America will only pull societies further apart, rather than helping them to grow and develop as united communities.
Readers who are shocked and upset by this video: take action and participate in a campaign to expose the politicians who showed public support in the protests, and “to question their participation in this hate-fest.”
*Sources: Youtube, Esquire: The Politics Blog, The Orange County Register
Journalist in a Jumpsuit 