by Rose Marie Berger, an assistant editor of Sojourners

Here are 10 things you can do to keep the fabric of your community strong:

1. Take flowers to your local mosque or Islamic center. Introduce yourself to the staff and offer your support.
2. Listen to talk radio and respond. ("I've just heard a caller on your show defame and threaten Muslims. This is not the American way and won't be tolerated. As for me, my family, and my community, we stand in solidarity with Muslims and Arab Americans.")
3. Set up an "accompaniment" telephone hotline. Many colleges and some towns offer a service for people who must walk alone and feel frightened. Use this system to provide accompaniment for Muslims who feel threatened, especially Muslim women who are scared to go about their weekly shopping and errands.
4. Identify your chapel or community center as a safe haven for Muslims or Arab-Americans who are experiencing harassment.
5. Organize a local "emergency response team" to move quickly in the event of any hate crime. They can be on hand immediately to remove hateful graffiti and offer immediate support to hate crime victims.
6. Talk to your children or youth group about how to stand with and protect their Muslim classmates.
7. Take up a special collection for donation to your local mosque or Islamic center.
8. Educate yourself and your community on Islam. Sponsor a Christian-Muslim dialogue.
9. Write a "Letter to the Editor" of the local paper denouncing anti-Muslim violence. Use the religious leaders' statement "Deny Them Their Victory" as an aid.
10. Encourage local religious leaders to take a bold, visible stand in support of the Islamic community.
    
    

Source: SojoNet 2001 (c) http://www.sojo.net

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