The hate crime perpetrated against a North Philadelphia mosque earlier this month was part of a larger trend of anti-Muslim hate spreading across the country. In the last few weeks, ADL has recorded 75 anti-Muslim incidents – 27 since San Bernadino, and 48 in the immediate aftermath of the Paris attacks. Anti-Islamic sentiment is also on the rise, with public figures increasingly engaging in Islamaphobic rhetoric.
ADL finds this spike of Islamaphobia deeply troubling. When people are attacked, harassed or intimidated because of their religion, we must stand up and speak out. We cannot allow fear and bias to dictate how we treat others who are different from ourselves.
ADL will continue monitoring these incidents and speaking out against them. The League has created a number of resources to help families, educators and community members challenge anti-Muslim bias, including:
- Myths and Facts about Muslim People and Islam: This resources corrects five common misconceptions about Muslims in order to provide background knowledge about Muslim people and Islam, dispel stereotypes and myths and replace them with facts and information, suggest ways that people can address these important topics and provide key words and definitions related to Muslim people and Islam.
- Terrorist Attack in Paris and Scapegoating: This middle and high school lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the Paris attacks and understand the ways in which Muslim people and Syrian refugees are being scapegoated as a result of the terrorist attacks.
- Books Matter – Children’s Books about Muslims and Muslim-Americans: This recommended collection of books is representative of the excellent anti-bias and multicultural literature available for educators and parents of young children through age twelve. All the titles in Books Matter have been reviewed by ADL staff and are frequently updated with new and noteworthy books.
The Anti-Defamation League is the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations agency fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defending democratic ideals and protecting civil rights for all.