Before the shooting in Chapel Hill, there was Islamophobia in America.
Islamophobia is the dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims.
Ever since 9/11, Muslims have been painted as the villains. They have been seen by some as a group of people who must destroy because it is part of their religion.
Last month, three young Muslims were murdered by their neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks.
Although it has been said by the shooter’s wife that this was all about a dispute about parking, the families of the victims believe it was because of their Islamic faith.
The police of Chapel Hill and the FBI have stated that they are investigating whether it was a hate crime.
Although not yet confirmed, the crime brought on fear to many Muslims in America to question whether or not it is safe to live here.
Before the Chapel Hill Shooting, there was an incident in 2012 where a woman pushed a man in front of an oncoming train in New York because she believed him to be Muslim.
According to the FBI, anti-Islamic incidents were the second least reported hate crime.
After 9/11, it became the second highest.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR, reported that between 2008 and 2011, there have been 37 anti-Islam groups with funding of more $119 million.
Islamophobia has even shown up in the government.
Time magazine reported that 28% of American voters believe that Muslims should not be eligible to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2010, Oklahoma approved of an amendment that banned judges from considering Islamic religious principles in their rulings.
I am not a Muslim, but I believe that everyone must be treated with respect.
A whole group should not be persecuted for the actions of a small number of its members.
While there are small group of extremists in the Islamic faith, they do not represent the entire population.
Unlike what many Islamophobes may believe, they are not all the same.
Muslims make up six to seven million of the population; they are not the villains, they are people.
