#IllWalkWithYou: After Fatal Imam Shooting, People Offer To Walk Muslims To Mosque In Solidarity

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The Islamic community of Queens in New York City is still reeling from the tragic shooting deaths of an imam and his assistant, both of whom were shot in the head on Saturday in broad daylight by a gunman who remains at large. But as local Muslims struggle cope with what many see as an attack on their faith, some non-Muslims are reaching out with compassion, offering to walk beside their Muslim neighbors to and from the mosque.

People began expressing solidarity with the Queens Muslim community within hours of the shooting, voicing support for followers of Islam and decrying violence. Non-Muslims in New York City and across the country are now using the hashtag #IllWalkWithYou to offer to accompany Muslims on their way to worship, hoping to combat Islamophobia and mitigate any fear created by Saturday’s attack.


Lorinda Chamberlain ?@KittyLaRoo


If any Muslim in Brooklyn would like company to get someplace and feel safe, #ILLWalkWithYou.

12:45 AM - 15 Aug 2016

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American Muslims outside of New York City also used the hashtag to express solidarity within their fellow Muslims, praising non-Muslims who want to help and calling for unity in a time of crisis.

Although the exact motive of the shooting remains unclear, many see it as yet another instance of American Muslims being targeted simply because of their religious beliefs. Bolstered by ISIS-related terrorist attacks and anti-Muslim rhetoric from politicians such as Donald Trump, Islamophobic incidents have become frighteningly common in 2016: As of last week, ThinkProgress has tracked over 100 threats, assaults, protests, firings, airport profiling cases, and instances of vandalism perpetrated against American Muslims and their houses of worship.

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More:https://thinkprogress.org/illwalkwithyou-after-fatal-imam-shooting-people-offer-to-walk-muslims-to-mosque-in-solidarity-e417a8456525#.tpmt2spl2

Proof positive that Love Trumps Hate.