In the aftermath of the hostage crisis in downtown Sydney, Australians are showing the world they're not caving to racism or Islamophobia.
On Monday, an armed gunman stormed a cafe in Martin Place, entering a tense standoff with police. After the hostage-taker displayed an Islamic flag in the cafe's window, many of Australia's Muslims are understandably anxious about facing retribution.
But instead, Australians have banded together on Twitter with #IllRideWithYou, a hashtag showing their solidarity with fellow countrymen scared of being attacked on public transportation.
The hashtag started simply, with an act of compassion. Tessa Kum, a writer living in Sydney, told Guardian Australia she acted after seeing a tweet from TV reporter Michael James:
This, this is what good people do. #sydneyseige #MartinPlace pic.twitter.com/zxbHLWzxEphttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/B43iEviCIAECsJf.jpg:large
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.
Maybe start a hashtag? What's in #illridewithyou?
The campaign snowballed from there. Topsy, a social media analytics website, measured more than150,000 tweets with the hashtag in just 12 hours:
I'm a semi regular commuter on the #mandurah line. If you see me #illridewithyou. I'll be wearing this scarf. pic.twitter.com/sWSpbDcOsdhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/B44vmcYCIAAs2BC.jpg:large
If you wear religious attire, & need to get from #Adelaide's west suburbs to the city on Tues but don't want to travel alone #illridewithyou
Practical thing: I've made a temporary sticker for my bag so people who need me can spot me #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/aVldEn9wVUhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/B444INsCIAA3KCh.jpg:large
illridewithyou because together the journey is more fun. That, friends, is our victory: one haters will never know. pic.twitter.com/tuIzHWLNZjhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/B45SloKCAAAfKMD.jpg:large
Anybody concerned for their safety going to work in Brisbane tomorrow morning from the Northside, #illridewithyou
James from Ashfield reporting in for #illridewithyou tomorrow morning en route to the city at 8:30am every morning this week.
If you're a Muslim person feeling threatened on public transport in Aus pls check #illridewithyou for people in your area willing to support
Why it matters. This hashtag movement is powerful sign that Australians won't get worked up into a Islamophobic rage because of the actions of a single madman. It's also a lesson for countries like the U.S., where hate crimes against Muslims spike whenever there's a criminal or terrorist incident involving Muslims, or even when something innocuous happens like debating the placement of a mosque in New York City. Australian social media users are showing Muslims they're safe in their home and shouldn't fear retaliation for an incident they're not linked to.
If your faith in humanity hasn't been restored yet, perhaps these tweets will help:
I'm preparing myself for all the hate I'll get for being a muslim. #illridewithyou
I was going to drive to work tomorrow but seeing the outpouring of support changed my mind. #illridewithyou Thank you. See you on the train!
illridewithyou should now be our standard for public transport. Let anyone trying to hurt others see very clearly how isolated they are
i'm muslim and verry happy to see that people in austrilia know that a group of jihadist don't represent all the relegion #illridewithyou
As the crisis unfolds, Australia continues to set an example for the United States, and the rest of the world, by refusing to let xenophobia rule the day. Good on ya, Australia.
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