'Religious freedom' takes on a whole new meaning under Donald Trump. Here's what you need to know.

By Nidhi Prakash  |  January 15, 2017 | 1:00pm
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As we count down the days to Donald Trump’s inauguration, Fusion is bringing you resource guides on who’s working to support minority communities at a time when many have been threatened by the incoming president and his administration. After a campaign filled with outright Islamophobia and suggestions of anti-Semitism, we’re taking a look at the state of religious freedom under Trump.

What Trump has been up to:

Trump demonized Muslims from the get-go during his presidential campaign. He first suggested the idea of a “Muslim ban” in December 2015, saying he would prohibit all Muslims from entering the United States for an unspecified (but, he says, temporary) period of time—even Muslim American citizens who had gone overseas on holiday.

“Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” he said.

There have been mixed messages on whether he will set up a Muslim “registry” tracking Muslims in America. His cabinet nominees gave varying answers during their Senate confirmation hearings when questioned about their views on a registry or ban. Trump’s most recent comment on the ban and registry suggests he still intends to go through with his proposals: “You know my plans,” he said in December.

One of Trump’s top advisers is Steve Bannon, the former executive chairman of Breitbart News, a right-wing website popular with the white nationalist movement. Trump has not responded to calls from a long list of organizations to remove Bannon from this position of power because of his racist, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic associations.

Trump has also not directly addressed the fact that several white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups have endorsed him, or that his supporters online have launched a series of anti-Semitic campaigns of harassment against Jewish journalists and others on social media. In November, he told perpetrators to “stop it.” Civil rights groups say Trump has still not taken responsibility for spurring hate crimes and harassment.

Who’s answering the call:

Civil rights groups like the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center have spoken out against the Islamophobic and anti-Semitic rhetoric stirred up by Trump’s campaign. The SPLC is also tracking reports of hate crimes.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has been actively tracking Islamophobic hate crimes, rhetoric, and policy moves as well as providing assistance to American Muslims who are targeted. Groups like the Interfaith Alliance bring together leaders from different faiths to advocate for their communities.

How you can help:

You can help by educating yourself (some more reading below) and writing to your elected representatives to make it clear that you stand against religious bigotry, especially when it infringes on people’s human rights.

And it’s worth keeping an eye on the work of the organizations below, who are monitoring and responding to moves from the incoming Trump administration.

Reading list/resource links:

Up next on How to Survive Trump’s America: Come back tomorrow to find out more about how we can keep up the fight for racial equality under Trump’s presidency.

 
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