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Military personnel use #iwillprotectyou hashtag to reassure Muslim girl scared by Donald Trump | Military personnel use #iwillprotectyou hashtag to reassure Muslim girl scared by Donald Trump |
(1 day later) | |
What difference can a humble hashtag make? | What difference can a humble hashtag make? |
For one young Muslim girl, at least, military service members and veterans were able to use the hashtag #iwillprotectyou to reassure the youngster she would not be deported from the US after Donald Trump’s controversial proposals to ban Muslims. | For one young Muslim girl, at least, military service members and veterans were able to use the hashtag #iwillprotectyou to reassure the youngster she would not be deported from the US after Donald Trump’s controversial proposals to ban Muslims. |
Melissa Yassini of Dallas, Texas, said she came home earlier this month to find her eight-year-old daughter, Sofia, packing her bags. | Melissa Yassini of Dallas, Texas, said she came home earlier this month to find her eight-year-old daughter, Sofia, packing her bags. |
“She had began collecting all her favourite things in a bag in case the army came to remove us from our homes,” Ms Yassini wrote on Facebook. | “She had began collecting all her favourite things in a bag in case the army came to remove us from our homes,” Ms Yassini wrote on Facebook. |
“She checked the locks on the door three-to-four times. This is terrorism. No child in America deserves to feel that way.” | “She checked the locks on the door three-to-four times. This is terrorism. No child in America deserves to feel that way.” |
Ms Yassini made the post after the Republican frontrunner made a series of outspoken statements about Muslims in the aftermath of the mass shooting in San Bernardino. A Muslim couple, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people and injured more than 20, before they were themselves shot dead by police. | Ms Yassini made the post after the Republican frontrunner made a series of outspoken statements about Muslims in the aftermath of the mass shooting in San Bernardino. A Muslim couple, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people and injured more than 20, before they were themselves shot dead by police. |
Following the attack, Mr Trump said the US should stop allowing Muslim migrants or refugees to enter the country. | Following the attack, Mr Trump said the US should stop allowing Muslim migrants or refugees to enter the country. |
“We have no idea who is coming into our country, no idea if they like us or hate us,” he told told supporters. A subsequent survey found that a third of Americans supported the tycoons’s position. | “We have no idea who is coming into our country, no idea if they like us or hate us,” he told told supporters. A subsequent survey found that a third of Americans supported the tycoons’s position. |
ABC News reported that Ms Yassini's post went viral and was shared more than 20,000 times. Kerri Peek, an army veteran saw the story on social media and was horrified. | ABC News reported that Ms Yassini's post went viral and was shared more than 20,000 times. Kerri Peek, an army veteran saw the story on social media and was horrified. |
“I was up all night, it bothered me,” said Ms Peek. “I’m a mum for mother to mother. I know you want to protect your children from everything.” | “I was up all night, it bothered me,” said Ms Peek. “I’m a mum for mother to mother. I know you want to protect your children from everything.” |
Ms Peek said she was especially upset that Sofia was worried about soldiers coming to take her away. | Ms Peek said she was especially upset that Sofia was worried about soldiers coming to take her away. |
“What’s a way for her to know that soldiers are not going to come to her door,” said Ms Peek, who eventually sent her a picture of herself in her army uniform. | “What’s a way for her to know that soldiers are not going to come to her door,” said Ms Peek, who eventually sent her a picture of herself in her army uniform. |
Included with the photo was a message, she said: “Here's a picture of me as a mom and soldier and I’ll come to protect you.” | Included with the photo was a message, she said: “Here's a picture of me as a mom and soldier and I’ll come to protect you.” |
Ms Peek also asked her friends to send Sofia messages of support. She started a hashtag, #iwillprotectyou, and requested other military service members and veterans on social media to pledge to protect Muslim children such as Sofia from being discriminated against. | Ms Peek also asked her friends to send Sofia messages of support. She started a hashtag, #iwillprotectyou, and requested other military service members and veterans on social media to pledge to protect Muslim children such as Sofia from being discriminated against. |
“Post a picture of you in uniform with the hashtag '#WillProtectYou' to let these children know that we will not hurt them. That they are safe here in America,” she wrote on Facebook. | “Post a picture of you in uniform with the hashtag '#WillProtectYou' to let these children know that we will not hurt them. That they are safe here in America,” she wrote on Facebook. |
One poster, Anthony Raffety, wrote: “Sofia, as an American, Marine & father, your story breaks my heart. Do not fear, Sofia, we will protect you.” | One poster, Anthony Raffety, wrote: “Sofia, as an American, Marine & father, your story breaks my heart. Do not fear, Sofia, we will protect you.” |
Another, Elizabeth April, wrote: “Sofia, u r the reason I serve. I don't ask what religion ppl r b4 I help them: I just do.” | Another, Elizabeth April, wrote: “Sofia, u r the reason I serve. I don't ask what religion ppl r b4 I help them: I just do.” |
Ms Peek said she has even heard from Ms Yassini about Sofia’s reaction to the new hashtag. | Ms Peek said she has even heard from Ms Yassini about Sofia’s reaction to the new hashtag. |
“She said she's been reading the posts to her daughter and her daughter feels so much better knowing that she's a part of America,” she said. | “She said she's been reading the posts to her daughter and her daughter feels so much better knowing that she's a part of America,” she said. |
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