So, Donald Trump in now president and the world is in shock. Providing an unsettling glimpse into an America presided over by Trump, #IslamophobiaAtPolls has started trending on Twitter.
Having called last year called for a “total and complete shut down” of Muslim’s entering the United States, Trump’s racist and bigoted rhetoric has resounded through America and Muslims have faced a growing number of Islamophobic attacks as a result.
Last month, 7-year-old Abdul Aziz Usmani was beaten up for by classmates for being a Muslim, his father claims. “Welcome to the United States of America of Donald Trump,” Zeeshan-ul-Hassan Usmani, 38, wrote in a viral Facebook post published on Oct. 8. “He is in grade one, bullied and beaten by his own classmates in [a] school bus for being a Muslim.”
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. The Huffington Post has documented nearly 300 incidents of anti-Muslim violence, discrimination and hate speech in 2016, with hate crimes against Muslim Americans rising to their highest level since the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11.
As Muslim Americans went to cast their vote, the possibility of encountering hate or violence was a real possibility, particularly given Trump’s popularity among the electorate.
Michigan law professor Khaled Beydoun posted a tweet on Tuesday morning encouraging Muslims to report any negative voting experiences using the hashtag #IslamophobiaAtPolls:
Muslim voters: if you experience Islamophobia at polls today - share your story with hashtag #IslamophobiaAtPolls
Please RT.— Khaled Beydoun (@KhaledBeydoun) November 8, 2016
Unsuprisingly, the tweet went viral, as Muslims throughout America encountered a stream of hate speech and racist attacks, proving there is a long way to go for America, the “land of the free.”
Standing in line to vote this morning — got asked how long I plan on staying in “our country”. #IslamophobiaAtPolls
— Jana Al-Akhras (@thealakhras) November 8, 2016
"Muslim go back home" shouted at my friend's 50+ year old, head-scarved mother outside of Fresno, CA #IslamophobiaAtPolls
— Khaled Beydoun (@KhaledBeydoun) November 8, 2016
MI Muslim woman wearing naqab told its not Halloween by another Arabic speaking voter... legit wanted her 2 take it off #IslamophobiaAtPolls
— Layla Elabed (@laylaelabed) November 8, 2016
the fact that enough situations have taken place to warrant an #IslamophobiaAtPolls hashtag is sad. unsurprising, but sad.
— Noor Shirazie (@ShirazieN) November 8, 2016
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