Twitter is ablaze with strong opinions from the right and left as netizens react to an anti-Islam protest held outside a Muslim place of worship in Phoenix, Arizona Friday night.
Using #NotMyAmerica to voice their opinions, hundreds of Twitter users expressed their disgust at a group of protesters who gathered outside the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix in a "freedom of speech" rally held around a Muhammad cartoon drawing contest similar to the same contest held in a Dallas suburb weeks ago where two Islamic extremists tied to the Islamic State were gunned down by the police before they could kill anyone.
The rally was attended by some 700 people, according to its Facebook group, some of them wearing t-shirts that said "F*** Islam." Its organizer, former Marine staff sergeant Jon Ritzheimer, wears the same shirt but says he does not "condone any threats against the mosque." Still, the protesters were encouraged to bring their firearms and "utilize (their) second amendment right" in the event that other extremists show up.
Another group showed up to oppose the message of the anti-Islam rallyists. Some of them screamed "Go home, Nazis" and other obscenities at the first group, but others opted to follow the advice of the community center president Usama Shami's advice to remain peaceful and chanted "Love thy neighbor."
"We should remind ourselves that we do not match wrongness with wrongness, but with grace and mercy and goodness," Shami told worshippers on Friday.
Although both sides seemed ready to gouge one another's eyes out, no violence occurred at the rally.
Many Twitter users agree with Shami's message of remaining still in the face of bigotry. Muslims have pointed out that people of other religions have actively voiced their support in the face of right-wing protesters wanting them out.
In the last 24 hrs we've received love from: Evangelicals, Jews, Atheists, The Nation of Islam, Sikhs - supporting Muslims. #NotMyAmerica
— Imraan Siddiqi (@imraansiddiqi) May 30, 2015
Encouraging to witness so many answer hate with love, fear with understanding, scapegoating with shared narratives & empathy. #NotMyAmerica — Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) May 30, 2015
Some Muslim users say they have seen worse in their own Muslim communities, and others, along with non-Muslim users, lament, criticize and our outraged at the fact that anti-Muslim protesters were allowed to bring their guns outside a mosque where people were praying.
Calling my father to tell him to go to a different mosque today is something that shouldn't have to happen. #NotMyAmerica #PHxMosque
— Tanzida Zaman (@TanzidaZaman) May 29, 2015
I saw arson, FBI visits, and death threats against the Arab American community I grew up in. I WISH I could say that was #NotMyAmerica. — Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) May 30, 2015
Hey Anti Muslim bigots: You may demonize us, try to marginalize or even attack us, but know this: We are NOT going anywhere. #NotMyAmerica
— Dean Obeidallah (@Deanofcomedy) May 30, 2015
Reactions poured in from everywhere, with a lot of people pointing out that one cannot use freedom of speech as an excuse to hate on a minority group based on their religion.
Bigot logic: "Muslims are violent!" *while pointing high powered weapons at unarmed Muslims, women and children #NotMyAmerica — Liban Yousuf (@YousufLiban) May 30, 2015
There's nothing worse than hatred, ignorance, & bigotry cloaked as #FreedomOfSpeech. I think we all see who the real thugs are #NotMyAmerica
— Neale Clunie (@AbeFroman) May 30, 2015
I'm not Muslim but I support the right to practice faith without fear of violence and intimidation. Racism & oppression are #NotMyAmerica — Alyson Blüberry (@alysonbluberry) May 30, 2015
Not only is this #NotMyAmerica - its a Klan-esque manifestation of bigotry, ignorance and is a disgrace. pic.twitter.com/enBrheKmh3
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) May 30, 2015
However, some users, while not saying they agree with wielding guns at an anti-Islam protest, believe Islam should not be part of America.
The left begs us to be tolerant of one of the most intolerant, murdering, and hate-filled religions on the planet. Why? #NotMyAmerica — Leah the Boss (@LeahRBoss) May 30, 2015
I will NEVER accept a religion that promotes stoning women, throwing gays from buildings, and killing non-believers. #NotMyAmerica
— Leah the Boss (@LeahRBoss) May 30, 2015
Please explain to me why there are so many Islamic appeasers in America? It's disturbing. Stop it. #NotMyAmerica #islamistheproblem — Quints Bakery (@katomart) May 30, 2015
Others, however, have leaped out of the Islam/not Islam dichotomy to look at the bigger picture, pointing out a few reminders about America's racist past to explain what is happening right now.
Of course America has always been racist. #NotMyAmerica is a country without structural racism & xenophobia that we wish to see.
— Dawud Walid (@DawudWalid) May 29, 2015
#NotMyAmerica? Except that it IS. Violent racists at houses of worship in America has deadly precedent. pic.twitter.com/WPVZkSHmQQ — Donna Auston (@TinyMuslimah) May 30, 2015
All these white people and their "#NotMyAmerica". Literally, it's not your America. You stole it from the native people.
— ra • 90 something (@stiIesderek) May 30, 2015
