Michigan: In a heartening show of support and unity, hundreds of non-Muslim students at Michigan University came together and formed big circle of protection around their Muslims classmates.
Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) of the University of Michigan organised a public Ishaa prayer on Monday evening in response to the recent attacks against Muslim student allegedly by a stranger for wearing a hijab.
Students, faculty and community members participated in the prayer with non-Muslim forming a protective wall around those who were praying.
“Some individuals were afraid that we might be vulnerable during our prayer, so we had the idea of calling allies to support us and create a circle around us while we prayed and they ensured our safety,” MSA president Farhan Ali, a junior, told The Huffington Post in an email.
“Hundreds and hundreds of people came out for both prayer and showing their support,” Ali wrote.
“The amount of support was overwhelming and absolutely wonderful, and it brought some ease to the Muslim students [and] showed that we have other individuals who are willing to stand with us.”
Mohammed Ishtiaq, the university’s Muslim chaplain, told The Huffington Post that both Christian and Jewish community in the campus shown their heartwarming support.
“Some members of the crowd held signs that read, “You Belong Here.”.
“Although it was a cold night, the amount of support we got was really heartwarming,” Ishtiaq said in an email. Events of solidarity like this give us hope.”
The attacks against Muslims and other minorities have spiked in the wake of Donald Trump’s shock presidential victory.