In this current time of heightened tension and bigotry, Muslims and Jews in cities across the country are coming together to form new interfaith relationships. This is especially true in Minnesota, where the Muslim and Jewish communities participate in a variety of interfaith activities, from official mosque-synagogue partnerships, to roundtables and events, to shared holiday gatherings, and even to joint legislative alliances.
Reaching Out in Charlottesville
After the events in Charlottesville, Virginia this summer, in which white supremacists rallied and ultimately killed a counter-protestor, this Virginia Muslim group is hoping to unite and build bridges with their local interfaith community.
Muslim Students Create App to Track Anti-Muslim Incidents
More than two years after the murders of Muslim University of North Carolina Chapel Hill students Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salha, UNC Chapel Hill’s Muslim Student Association has launched an app to document instances of Islamophobia on and around the campus. Called Project Mawla, the open-source, Web-based app released last December allows students and residents of Chapel Hill to document anti-Muslim incidents. According to its website, Project Mawla was created as a “counterpoint to the systemically supported notion that Islamophobia neither exists nor affects the livelihood of American Muslims.” While it is unfortunate that such an app is necessary, we commend these students for developing this innovative way to track and catalogue instances of bigotry.
A Muslim Road Trip to Middle America
In this piece, two Muslims visit middle America to see how divided the U.S. really is and speak with people about different issues at the forefront of national debate. The writer had a lot of meaningful – and at times, perplexing – conversations, but ultimately concludes that the U.S. is such a diverse and nuanced place, that boiling regions and peoples down into simplistic tropes and stereotypes is as impossible as it is inaccurate. We salute this writer and her friend for making their journey to learn more about their fellow Americans!
We Must Get to Know One Another
Read this op-ed about the need for and importance of getting to know people of other faiths in order to dispel myths and misconceptions. This is especially true for Muslims, as many Americans report not personally knowing any Muslims.
