New York – The City of New York has launched a social media campaign in response to a sharp increase in hate crimes against Muslims.
Showing an array of photographs of Muslim men and women, the campaign reads “I am Muslim. I am NYC,” according to the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
The social media campaign comes after several hate crimes have occurred in the New York.
Last month, an imam and his assistant were shot in the back of the head execution-style after leaving the afternoon prayer in Queens. Their death ignited fear in the Muslim community and calls for Mayor de Blasio to provide greater security at mosques. A Hispanic man was charged with this heinous crime.
Then the aunt of a Muslim traffic officer was stabbed to death not far from her home in Queens. The assailant has not yet been apprehended.
More recently, two Muslim women pushing their strollers were viciously attacked by a Brooklyn woman called them “Muslim bitches” and told them to “get the F—k out of America.” The assailant was charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child for pushing over the baby stroller.
The campaign also comes just over a week since authorities allege Ahamd Khan Rahami set off bombs in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea and on the Jersey Shore after being inspired by Islamic extremism.
Rahmani was charged last week with the use of weapons of mass destruction in both states and five counts of attempted murder of police officers in New Jersey. The Chelsea bombing injured 31 people in Manhattan.
“Now more than ever, it is important for every New Yorker to stand united as one city and reject hate and violence,” de Blasio said in a statement released by New York City’s mayor’s office announcing the scheme. “In New York, everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Agnostic, and Atheist — it doesn’t matter. We are all New Yorkers and we all deserve to live safely and free from hatred or discrimination. We will not tolerate discrimination or violence of any kind and we will not rest until all New Yorkers, including our Muslim brothers and sisters, are treated with the dignity they deserve.”
There are claims that Anti-Muslim sentiments have been generated by the campaign rhetoric of GOP presidential candidate Donald J. Trump. Trump has advocated not allowing Muslims to enter the U.S. on a temporary basis “until we can figure out what is going on,” said Trump.
