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Many Muslims in the United States refer to September 11, 2001 as the day their relationship with the country changed.
Islamophobia has always existed, but the terrorist attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania and Virginia have apparently made the situation worse – much worse.
Muslims of all stripes – citizens, immigrants and refugees – have faced negative reactions. Many have been ostracized and harassed, some physically assaulted and even killed. The charged rhetoric, wars and successive attacks made the situation even worse.
Feeling condemned for crimes they did not commit, some Muslims changed their names and clothes to conceal their identities, while others clung to their faith even more. A few have become strong supporters of the community.
Every Muslim in America has a story to tell. Here is one of them.
Ruwa Romman, 28, is an American-Palestinian community organizer and policy analyst living in Duluth, Georgia.
When the terrorists attacked, she was 8 years old and had just immigrated to the United States with her parents. But her dream of building a new life in America quickly turned into a nightmare.
“I remember the hallways and the day seemed darker although I remember it was sunny outside,” Romman told CNN of his experience at school that day. “I don’t think I fully understood what was going on since I barely spoke English.”
However, she remembers the long list of insults that were thrown at her when she was a child: “terrorist” and “sable n **** r”. Some have even asked if it was linked to Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of Al Qaeda behind the attacks.
Romman says she can’t remember a single day in elementary school when the bullying stopped. High school wasn’t much better – with a teacher pulling her out of the classroom to ask if her family belonged to a terrorist group.
Outside of school, the family of a close friend banished her from their home because she was Muslim and “dangerous,” she said. Travel to the airport required multiple baggage checks, sometimes three times in a single trip.
Bullying and harassment set Romman on the path to educating and advocating for his community, even at a young age.
“I felt that sense of duty to never respond to all the terrible comments that were made to me and instead try to educate people,” Romman said. “Thinking back to my young self, I’m so angry and sad for her. I had nothing to do with any of this. I was a kid trying to grow up and understand my life. a billion people in the world. “
In 2016, Romman joined the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest civil rights and Muslim advocacy organization, as Director of Communications. She has since become a community organizer, policy analyst and consultant working on related issues.
Romman says standing up for American Muslims and the issues they face is intimidating, but sees hope in every little victory.
“We will continue to be politically and unabashedly engaged,” he added. Romman said. “Muslims are no longer willing to carry this burden. None of us committed September 11. Why should we carry this burden? “
Read more here.
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