NEW YORK (Web Desk) – Residents of New York city came out on streets on Monday to stage a demonstration against the burgeoning Islamophobia in the city, demanding equal rights for Muslims.
The protest was part of a campaign “IAmMuslimNYC” launched in the aftermath of a Manhattan bomb attack blamed on a radicalised Afghan-American.
The Mayor of New York also urged the need for unity among communities from diversified origins.
“Now more than ever, it is important for every New Yorker to stand united as one city and reject hate and violence,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement.
“We will not tolerate discrimination or violence of any kind and we will not rest until all New Yorkers, including our Muslim brothers and sisters, are treated with the dignity they deserve” the statement added.
The New York City Mayor’s Office and Commission on Human Rights also launched the #IamMuslimNYC social media ad campaign to promote peace among religions and to combat xenophobia.
https://twitter.com/NYCCHR/status/780440933208915968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/sabrinalakhani/status/780529245198114816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It’s estimated there are more than 500,000 Muslims living in New York. Since 9/11 members of the Islamic community have endured hate crimes at an ever-increasing rate. Before the attacks on the World Trade Center, there were 20-30 anti-Muslim crimes reported across the US annually but in the last 18 months there have been 180 such incidents according to RT News.
Independent observers were of the view that actions of a few misled individuals could not represent a whole religion or community.
