This summer Boston has launched a series of posters addressing Islamophobia and public harassment. The posters feature the work of a French artist named Maeril who created a comic strip (pictured) on how to help possible victims of Islamophobia. The Boston posters present a bystanders guide with illustrations depicting a woman sitting on a train wearing a hijab, and an angry man yelling at her. The guide shows how to handle the situation if you’re a bystander, by sitting next to the victim until the harasser walks away.
Suzan El-Rayess, the Civic Engagement Director at Boston Cultural Center’s Islamic Society, says the bystander approach can be applied to victims targeted in any situation – “whether Muslim, Latino or otherwise.”
Mass Line reports that the city’s move to display the posters follows reports of anti-Muslim incidents across the country including a recent verbal attack against a Muslim woman on a Boston subway. “Education is key to fighting intolerance, and these posters share a simple strategy for engaging with those around you,” says Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
