Dear Tanenbaum Community,
Though religious and culturally motivated hate is not new, the rise of Islamophobia and antisemitism in the U.S. in response to the war between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate.
On Saturday, three Palestinian students wearing keffiyehs were shot while walking in Burlington, Vermont. Their names are Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed. Though the motive behind the attack is still unconfirmed, authorities are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
This attack comes just over a month following the devastating murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume. Anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate is real, with at least 774 reported bias incidents recorded between October 7 and October 24, and it is not exclusively experienced by Muslim and Arab communities. Those perceived to be Arab or Muslim, including Sikhs and Hindus, continue to be victims of Islamophobia.
We cannot reduce prejudice, hatred, and violence against religious communities without exposing all forms of hate. Below are some resources to help us continue doing the work:
- Extreme Prejudice: Practical approaches to teaching about religious extremism.
- Explaining Extremism and Addressing Islamophobia: Five practical steps for how parents and educators can explain extremism and address Islamophobia.
- Peacemakers in Action Statement on Gun Violence: The Peacemakers in Action Network join the call against gun violence in America.
Tanenbaum is here to build a world where people can live safely in their hijab, or keffiyeh, or dastar, or kippah.
For now,
Rev. Mark Fowler, CEO, Tanenbaum