New York: Donald Trump’s surprised victory in the US Presidential Elections left people across the world stunned and raised concerns due to the new President elect’s views reflecting Islamophobia and racism.
As FBI addressed a rise in hate crimes against minorities after the elections, several people shared their encounters with racism and Islamophobic behaviour on the social media, just days after Trump were elected President. Similarly, a Muslim photojournalist shared an incident involving hate speech and also a shocking response from authorities.
Mohammad Elshamy wrote about his experience at a local Starbucks in New York, where him and his friend were abused by an American woman and his friend was subjected to derogatory terms for wearing veil.
Following the shocking display of hate, he called 911 and narrated the incident to a cop in a patrol car outside the café. While the police officer said sorry and admitted that they were cursed too, him likening hate speech to freedom of speech in the constitution came as an added shock to Elshamy.
What was apparent to Mohammad from this response to the complaint was that the police would only take action when the attack was physical and derogatory remarks were freedom of speech.
