Since Donald Trump’s rise in the GOP nomination, civil rights groups have reported a rise in Islamophobic rhetoric and incidents. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a report which found that more than 70 groups in America were contributing to Muslim discrimination, with 33 groups having a clear agenda of “promot[ing] prejudice against, or hatred of, Islam and Muslims.”
“Islamophobia is on the rise because we have people stoking and promoting it,” says Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota who introduced Senator Bernie Sanders at the DNC convention. “They actually have organizations dedicated to pumping it up. It’s on the rise because people who are going through difficulties are being offered reasons for their difficulties, and they’re saying it’s the Muslim community.”
Elison’s solution is for the Muslim-American community to get out this election, vote and be heard. “There are a lot of places in this country where the Muslim vote is crucial, and I think the best way to push back on Donald Trump is be active and participate, vote, organize and then go beyond the election.”
“We can defeat hate,” says Nihad Awad of CAIR. “Islamophobia is not a Muslim issue, it’s an American issue. Hate crimes are on the rise. The biggest victim of Islamophobia is America and its future prospect.”
