Islamophobia is running rampant in this country, helped in part by the tensions that the current administration have fostered. Its ugliness is displayed for our eyes to see across social media, serving as a mirror for our society’s intolerance, despite our claims of being “post-racial.”
Another in a long line of anti-Islamic incidents reportedly happened on June 3, when Rahma Warsame, a 40-year-old Muslim Somali-American was allegedly attacked by a white man after she confronted him over verbal attacks her was leveling against another Muslim woman.
Teen Vogue reports that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has held a press conference on behalf of Warsame, who they are legally representing.
CAIR alleges that their client was "viciously beaten" and was left with "severe facial fractures as well as several lost teeth." Per Warsame, the alleged assailant Ricky Boyce (who lives in the same apartment complex as her) also hurled at them, "You all will be shipped back to Africa," as he proceeded to physically attack her.
In what is arguably one of the many blessings of social media, images of Warsame at the hospital went viral, which eventually caught the attention of civil rights activist Linda Sarsour, who served as the national co-chair of the Women’s March.
Sarsour launched a fundraising campaign for Warsame, which has — as of this reporting — raised over $110,000 and surpassed its goal.
Boyce and his girlfriend, Samantha Morales, both claim that the targeted attack or racial slurs never happened, per their interview with The Daily Caller.
The Columbus Department of Police released a statement via Twitter confirming that they briefly detained a man at the scene, but didn’t not arrest him due to lack of evidence and conflicting stories by all parties involved.
6/5/17 NEWS RELEASE – 2800 PINELLAS COURT. #CPD pic.twitter.com/1JrXIl4zOr— Columbus Ohio Police (@ColumbusPolice) June 5, 2017
"What I am questioning here in this situation, as an ordinary citizen, is how is it that the police department shows up and there's a woman who is clearly injured and she clearly has to be taken away by the ambulance," Sarsour said to Teen Vogue. "She should be asked whether or not she wants to press charges against this man."
Activism organization Yes We Can's Columbus chapter agrees that there should be an investigation for the incident.
"There is no place for hatred or bigotry in Columbus, and we firmly denounce this disgusting attack," the organization released in a statement. "Yes We Can Columbus calls for an investigation into this incident and for the attacker to be brought to justice … If we claim to be an Opportunity City, then we must also be a safe city for all."
Word!
