By Fatima Kermalli
It has unfortunately become an all-too-familiar scene of racial slurs, Islamophobic rants and attacks, and anti-Semitism permeating across our land. The incident that occurred May 26in Portland, Ore., was no different; yet, it was different.
A man alleged to be a white supremacist reportedly began screaming anti-Islamic slurs to two women, one of whom was a Muslim wearing a hijab (Islamic covering), on a commuter train. This appeared to be another incident of Islamophobia.
However, what was different was that there were three men who stood up to defend the young women. All three men from varying backgrounds, strangers to each other, came together to stop a transgression. They tried to intervene and stop him, but in the process, two of the three men, according to police, were fatally stabbed by the perpetrator, and the third was seriously injured; we pray for his speedy recovery. Our most heartfelt condolences go to the families on their great loss.
It is also a great loss for all of humanity to lose such honorable and selfless individuals. They were considered heroes, but beyond that, they were truly martyrs, with two of the men dying while protecting others and standing up to injustice.
They certainly continue to be an inspiration for all of us to become proactive in the face of wrongdoing. If we were all stood up against oppression, then hate and its crimes would not have a chance to rise. It was reported in May by the Council on American-Islamic Relations that in 2016 there had been a 57 percent increase in anti-Islamic incidents.
Whether it be Islamophobia or other crimes of hate, it is only by benevolence that we will overcome it because acts of kindness reap acts of kindness.
The day after the incident, three Muslim organizations, Muslims4peace, CelebrateMercy and the Muslim Education Trust, created a LaunchGood online fundraising campaign to raise $60,000, to assist with funeral expenses and medical bills for the victims’ families.
The power of the human condition to spread and maintain good is not only contagious but also unbreakable. In addition, unity and mutual respect are merely words when they are written or spoken, but when they are acted on daily, then they create a harmonious society.
This is something we should all strive for regardless of one’s faith or background. The four brave souls who followed the culprit until he was apprehended by police and the three men who intervened and were stabbed are all truly successful individuals because they endeavored to uphold peace.
