At the Emergency Rally for Muslim and Immigrant Rights at Washington Square Park in New York City on January 25, 2017 (photograph by Diamond Naga Siu for the Washington Square News)
By Simran Jeet Singh
There are certain moments when political leaders target, marginalize and discriminate against minority communities unfairly. This is certainly one of those moments. It has only been a week since Mr. Trump entered the Oval Office, and a number of minority communities have already been shaken by his actions and orders.
In moments like these, it becomes incredibly important for those who believe in freedom and justice to resist such actions. While engaging in resistance, however, we sometimes forget to also reach out to those who are being marginalized and express our affirmation and solidarity.
As people around the world wonder how they can engage in resistance, let us remember that in the context of incredible dehumanization, recognizing the humanity of one another is a powerful act of resistance. Affirming the dignity of the marginalized serves to empower those who are being targeted, to honor the diversity of our nation, and to strengthen our own local communities.
One simple way of making a meaningful impact is to reach out to your local Muslim community and offer some words of love. Such a message would be especially helpful given the unfair targeting and criminalization of Muslims.
Below is a template of a letter that you are welcome to copy and adapt for your own local Muslim communities. Please also feel free to circulate.
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Dear Muslim Sisters and Brothers,
We realize that this is a very difficult time for you and your community. We recognize that there are people in this country who have negative feelings about Muslims and about Islam. We also see how these negative feelings are being used to justify the mistreatment of Muslims.
We want you to know that we do not agree with those who mistreat you. We want you to know that we are with you. We want you to know that you are loved and that you are cherished and that you are valued members of this community.
Please remember that you have allies here – people who truly and sincerely care about your well-being. We ask you to please stay strong in these challenging times and to please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. As your allies, we promise to do everything that we can to stand up for your rights and to ensure that you are treated with the dignity and respect that you deserve.
Thank you for being such an important part of our community, and thank you for enduring willingness to help preserve the freedoms that make our country great.
With Sincerity,
Your Neighbors
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Simran Jeet Singh is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Trinity University where he primarily teaches Islamic Studies. Simran also serves as Senior Religion Fellow for the Sikh Coalition and a Truman National Security Fellow. He is active in interfaith and religious education programs and cares deeply about achieving justice and equity in our world.
My God does not treat anyone with hate, only love. I am sorry you are being persecuted because of terrorists claiming to be of the Muslim faith but that is a lie. Your faith, as mine, is a peaceful faith and does not encourage or support violence. Please know that there are many people like myself that will not be silent during this period of persecution. We will stand up against hatred and fear.
God be with you now and forever,
Paxson Barker
On behalf of my family, I want the Muslim community to know that I am appalled at the recent executive order signed by Trump. I want you to know that I will stand up and speak out on your behalf whenever and wherever mistreatment of your faith is maligned. We are with you.
Please don’t let the noisy ugly few mislead you into thinking most of us have antipathy towards Muslims. On the contrary, thinking Americans understand that a multitude of cultures leads to stronger more vibrant societies. You have much to offer here, as immigrants from everywhere since our founding have always had as well. We love the diversity of our community. It is a beautiful thing that we deeply value and will work to protect. “They” are loud, we shall become louder, because there are so many more of us.
Our country was built on freedom of religion. I am saddened and appalled that people who consider themselves Christians would elect a man like Trump to lead us. How they feel or think now, I don’t know, but I do know that I will stand with you and register as a Muslim if it comes to that, because we are all one. There is no division between us. God, or whatever we call the source of all things that created everything, made us One and is a part of us all, is in us all, and we are not separate.
There are many Muslims who do not practice the Islamic faith, or read the Quran. There are many Jews who do not even read the Torah, and many of my Jewish friends are Atheists. Many Chrisitian’s do not read the Bible or live according to Matthew 5-7. I want to have a “religion” like Desmond Doss of the film Hacksaw Ridge.