The fatal shooting of a New York City imam and his associate in Queens has prompted people around the country to offer to accompany Muslim worshippers to and from mosques so that they won’t have to fear for their safety.
Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and his assistant Thara Uddin, 64, were fatally shot in the back of their heads on Saturday afternoon blocks away from the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid in Ozone Park. The police have not yet arrested anyone for the killings or determined a motive, but members of the heavily Muslim Bangladeshi community fear that the incident was a hate crime.
The men were wearing traditional religious attire when they were shot, and others in the community said they’ve been targeted by anti-Muslim comments.
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said in a statement that although police hadn’t determined a motive in the shooting, “our Muslim communities are in the perpetual crosshairs of bigotry.”
In response to the killings, many non-Muslims posted tweets with the hashtag #IllWalkWithYou to offer to physically accompany Muslims to their houses of worship.
Muslim Twitter users expressed appreciation, while also urging allies to vote against candidates who espouse Islamophobia.
A similar hashtag, #IllRideWithYou, sprang up in Australia in 2014 after a Muslim gunman held people hostage at a Sydney café. Australians offered to ride the train with Muslim commuters who feared an Islamophobic backlash to the incident.
Whoever tweeted #illwalkwithyou just know you touched the heart of many Muslim Americans in a moment they needed it the most.
— {Haythem.Hammour} (@HaythemHammour) August 14, 2016
Dear wonderful ppl of #IllWalkWithYou offering solidarity to Muslims: don’t just walk w us, vote against politicians who normalize hate. ✊?
— eemi (@eemanabbasi) August 14, 2016
Campaigns like #illwalkwithyou are a reminder that the best of America will always trump the worst of America. Pun intended.
— Zainab Chaudry (@zainabnc) August 14, 2016
#IllWalkWithYou Remember freedom of religion? So much love for the 2nd Amendment, how about honoring the first?
— Sufragette Ditty (@evahopkins) August 14, 2016
To all my #Muslim friends:
I see you.
I love you. #IllWalkWithYou— Rabbi Latz (@RavMABAY) August 14, 2016
To my Muslim friends in #Anchorage, #IllWalkWithYou… you should never feel unsafe here and I’m sorry for the hate you are suffering from.
— Liana Brooks (@LianaBrooks) August 14, 2016
