Amid the ongoing hostage crisis in Sydney, Australia, social media is overflowing with the hashtag #illridewithyou. Meant initially as an offer to actually ride with Muslims who might feel unsafe using public transportation in the wake of the hostage situation, the hashtag has now been adopted globally as a gesture of solidarity with Muslims everywhere.
The hashtag was created when Twitter user @MichaelJames_TV shared a screenshot of a woman’s Facebook status about how she tried to comfort a Muslim woman at a train station.
This, this is what good people do. #sydneyseige #MartinPlace http://t.co/zxbHLWzxEp—
Michael James (@MichaelJames_TV) December 15, 2014
Another Twitter user, @sirtessa, came up with the idea for the hashtag after retweeting the interaction.
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
From there, it took off.
Anyone worrried about using public transport in Cairns tmrw because #Lindt, hit me up for a lift. #illridewithyou
my car singing sux tho
— Joanne Mckenzie (@globalhighfive) December 15, 2014
I don’t fear you, your clothes, or your beliefs. You’re as welcome in my home as on my train, my bus, my sidewalk. #peace #illridewithyou
— Thomas Keegan (@TheThomasKeegan) December 15, 2014
#illridewithyou means a lot to a Muslim like me who spots a beard or veiled sisters, thanks for understanding not every muslim is terrorist.
— Mohsin Khan (@mohsinnow) December 15, 2014
So wonderful that social media can be used creatively and with powerful human messages. #illridewithyou @sirtessa
— Manuela Maiguashca (@manumaiguashca) December 15, 2014
Religious leaders come together at Makemba Mosque and call for peace following Sydney’s Cafe Siege #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/SywqDOzrWf
— Bianca (@byanx) December 15, 2014
#illridewithyou may be the best thing that’s ever happened on Twitter
— richard (@richtard) December 15, 2014
For me, #illridewithyou is literal. I’ll sit next to you and we can use our phones because I’m not capable of conversation in the morning.
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
#illridewithyou reminds me:
Muslim Woman Covers the Yellow Star of Her Jewish Neighbor with Her Veil. (Sarajev, 1941) http://t.co/LTKBsMxk5N—
Ken Sekiya (@ki_sekiya) December 15, 2014
Thanks for protecting my sisters #illridewithyou http://t.co/Qy9l0lN1qB—
Angger Prawitasari (@anggerwitasari) December 15, 2014
As always, though, there are some curmudgeons.
The people in the cafe are the ones who deserve your thoughts not some imaginary fellow bus passenger.
— Chris Kenny (@chriskkenny) December 15, 2014
@chriskkenny You’re just mad nobody wants to ride the bus with you Chris. So i will #illridewithyouchriskenny #illridewithyou
— That Duke You Knew (@Deadly_Thoughts) December 15, 2014
As of Monday morning the hashtag was trending worldwide. Five people have fled from the cafe, but an unknown number of hostages remain. The gunman has demanded an ISIS flag in exchange for a hostage and a phone call with Australian prime minister Tony Abbott. For updates on the situation, Australia’s ABC News is running a live-blog.
Sydney is showing solidarity with Muslims with the hashtag #illridewithyou
No comments:
Post a Comment