9/11 Families Campaign Against Islamophobia

OnIslam & Newspapers

Monday, 08 September 2014 00:00

"Islamophobia is not pretty," the ad reads. "Let's build bridges, not walls. Hate hurts, hope heals."

CAIRO – Family members of 9/11 victims have launched a new bus ad campaign to promote religious tolerance and condemn rise of Islamophobic attacks targeting the American Muslim community.

"We wanted to make a clear statement that our 9/11 family members do not want to promote fear and hatred in our names," Peaceful Tomorrows Project Director Terry Greene, whose brother died aboard United Flight 93, told Huffington Post.

"We believe that unity and interfaith tolerance are the path forward to a morepeaceful tomorrow."

Sponsored by September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, the ad campaign was launched last Saturday, September 6.

The campaign coincides with a symposium on gun violence and hate crimes in New York City.

"Islamophobia is not pretty," the ad reads. "Let's build bridges, not walls. Hate hurts, hope heals."

Similar campaigns were urged after a recent poll conducted by the Arab American Institute from 2010 to 2014 found that Americans have unfavorable feelings toward Arabs and Muslims.

Forty-five percent of Americans polled said they viewed Muslims unfavorably -- though only 47 percent said they personally knew someone who was Muslim.

Though hate crimes targeting minorities spiked after September 11, the campaign aims to respond specifically to recent attacks on Muslims and Sikhs in New York City.

"The civil liberties of all Americans are threatened," Greene said.

"By developing and advocating nonviolent options and actions in the pursuit of justice, we hope to break the cycles of violence engendered by war and terrorism," the organization said in a press release.

The Borough of Manhattan also declared September 6 the September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows Appreciations Day, Greene told HuffPost.

"We want to honor our loved ones by preventing other innocent civilians from dying needlessly," Greene said.

Since the 9/11 attacks, US Muslims, estimated between 6-8 million, have complained of discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities.

A US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.

A Gallup poll also found that the majority of US Muslims are patriot and loyal to their country and are optimistic about their future.