Someone threatened to set a University of Michigan student on fire for wearing a hijab. This must stop.

By Fusion Staff  |  November 13, 2016 | 6:20pm
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Steps away from the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, a stranger approached a student and threatened to set her on fire with a lighter, police say. The student took off her hijab and was able to get away on Friday night. Police say the threat is being investigated as a hate crime, and they are searching for the suspect.

Dawud Walid, who heads Michigan’s chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told the Detroit Free Press that the man who incited the violence especially needs to speak up.

“Our nation’s leaders, and particularly President-elect Donald Trump, need to speak out forcefully against the wave of anti-Muslim incidents sweeping the country after Tuesday’s election.”

Unfortunately, this is just one of the many stories of intimidation happening around the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, has calculated more than 200 incidents of intimidation and harassment since election day (though their tally doesn’t include this weekend meaning that number has undoubtedly gone up).

According to the group, the most reports are of anti-black and anti-immigrant harassment—though as you can see from the chart below, anti-Muslim, anti-LGBT, and other types of intimidation are up right now as well.

If you see someone being intimidated or harassed, here’s one way you can intervene:

http://maeril.tumblr.com/post/149669302551/hi-everyone-this-is-an-illustrated-guide-i-made

The artist, Maeril, also made an illustrated guide about other actions you can take to help others “during a wave of hate crimes.”

 
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