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How Did US Muslims React to Terrorism in Virginia?

Layla Abdullah-Poulos
13 August, 2017

NEW YORK – Virginia governor, Terry McAuliffe‏ declares a state of emergency for the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, following skirmishes and a car attack on a crowd after a white nationalist rally.

Police arrested James Alex Fields Jr., 20, of Maumee, Ohio, who allegedly rammed his car into the crowd, killing on 34-year-old woman and injuring at least 19 people.

US Muslim activists flooded social media with reactions to the rally and subsequent scuffles and the deadly attack.

Historical Racism.

Many Muslims expressed how the initial rally demonstrates a continual struggle against racism in the country.

Government Bias

The biased treatment of white supremacists by law enforcement was also addressed. Many felt that compared to the paramilitary presence at black-led protests for racial justice, police responded to the violence generated at the white nationalist march and rally less aggressively.

There was also criticism that there are little to no calls to punish those involved in the violence as well as the initial silence of President Trump and his subsequent measured response.

Avoiding the “T” Word

As news spread about the car attack, Muslims highlighted the purposeful avoidance to label it an act of terrorism by in the media to maintain stereotypes that exclusively associate the word to Muslims.

As the country contends with the rising tide of hatred and violence, US Muslims work to prevent the romanticizing of violence and support each other when facing hate.