Australians Show Support for Muslims Amid Hostage Crisis with #IllRideWithYou

With some anecdotal reports of average Muslims feeling nervous about backlash amid the hostage crisis in Sydney, Australians have flocked to Twitter showing their support for average Muslims with the hashtag #illridewithyou.

The genesis of the Twitter trend, according to the BBC, was a Facebook post from a woman who saw a Muslim woman taking off her hijab, so she walked over to her, said “I’ll walk with you,” the Muslim woman cried and put her hijab back on, and they walked together.

Then it got picked up by Twitter user @sirtessa, who came up with “I’ll ride with you”:

If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ me for schedule.

— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014

Maybe start a hashtag? What’s in #illridewithyou?

— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014

I don’t think that offer is specific to Sydney, or even Australia. It would do well in many spaces.

— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014

And some people got on board:

Following @sirtessa's example, #426/425 bus 2 Burwood, If u wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ 6:30 ish.

— Hannah Groff (@PalindromicGirl) December 15, 2014

@PalindromicGirl @sirtessa @taybenlor I'll do Victoria Road bus duty if I can. I have a yearly bus pass so it won't cost me. Lemme know.

— Gregory McIntyre (@gregmcintyre) December 15, 2014

@sirtessa @WeAreAustralia Yup, I've putting my hand up. Inner west to city during the week. 9am out 5.30pm return.

— ZuckerBaby (@ZuckerBaby) December 15, 2014

From there, scores of Australians showed their support for average Muslim citizens with their tweets. Here’s a selection of them:

#IllRideWithYou anywhere, any time. Just let me know. This kind of movement makes me so, so god damn proud to be Australian.

— Tully Smyth (@tee_smyth) December 15, 2014

A gutless prick with a gun is trying to provoke the worst in us. Instead, he's inspired the best in us. I love you, Sydney. #illridewithyou

— Alex Brown (@AlexBrown77) December 15, 2014

If Australians not of Muslim faith attack Australians that are, the terrorists win. Be it on trains,Internet or the street, #illridewithyou

— Craig Laundy (@LaundyCraigMP) December 15, 2014

#illridewithyou is the absolute best response to today's events. Those that seek to violently divide are best countered & defeated by unity.

— Rae Earl (@RaeEarl) December 15, 2014

We all felt fear today. Let's not allow our Muslim brothers and sisters to have another reason to be afraid tomorrow #illridewithyou

— Jessica Tovey (@jessieliz) December 15, 2014

#IllRideWithYou shows you shouldn't be scared to be Muslim. You should be scared to be racist.

— Gavin Fernando (@GavinDFernando) December 15, 2014

Feeling so blessed to be Aussie and Muslim. I love this country so much. Let's ride the peace train together. #illridewithyou

— Peter Gould (@petergouldart) December 15, 2014

My family and I are heading in and out of the city by tram in melbs tomorrow. We'll stand by anybody #illridewithyou

— Eddie Perfect (@Eddieperfect) December 15, 2014

[h/t NBC News]
[image via @anggerwitasari]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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