For Muslim communities across the United Kingdom,eroticization of japanese culture in western contemporary art March was a particularly frightening month.
Muslim homes and nonprofits began receiving letters declaring April 3rd "Punish a Muslim Day" in Britain. The letter detailed specific acts of violence against Muslims that would be rewarded with points, with some of the highest number of points awarded to people who "butchered" a Muslim "using a gun, knife, vehicle or otherwise."
Whether the letter intended to inspire actual violence, or just incite terror, Muslim communities in both the United Kingdom and the United States went into high alert. One nonprofit helped to launch a counter-hashtag, #LoveAMuslim, and it easily took off.
The letters that were sent list incredibly specific and violent acts of hate. Pulling a Muslim woman's hijab, for example, is awarded with 25 points, throwing acid with 50, and bombing a mosque, 1000 points.
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Metropolitan Police told London's Evening Standard that there is “no credible information” that any hate crimes were planned.
British charity Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) responded by circulating an alternative letter, enjoining readers to support the Muslim community by throwing a fundraiser for the most vulnerable members of their community (1000 points) or taking a weekend trip with their Muslim colleagues (250 points). Upon its release, #LoveAMuslim went viral on Tuesday, both in the United Kingdom and the United States, which saw a spike in hate crimes against Muslims since Trump's election.
"Beyond sharing the hashtag, we hope that people will act with love and kindness towards their Muslim neighbors — not just today, but every day of the year," Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of American nonprofit MPower Change, told Mashable. "This means not only being an upstander if you witness acts of hate, but actively working to build community and solidarity."
Sarsour noted that the hashtags were happening on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination:
"With this week marking the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, we remember his words: 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'"
All across Twitter, leaders in the Muslim community as well as their allies, chimed in with words of support.
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