#Illridewithyou goes viral as Australians express solidarity with Muslims on Twitter in wake of café siege
An Australian anti-Islamaphobia campaign has gone viral globally in the wake of a fatal siege of a Sydney café which drew international media interest.
#Illridewithyou was established amidst fears of a backlash against the country’s Muslim population following reports that the hostage was an Islamic extremist.
The phrase was coined amidst reports of some racist sentiments being expressed on public transport, prompting the show of solidarity to assuage community concerns.
Police remove passenger for racial abuse on #Metrotrains - attacker shouted down by angry commuters http://t.co/tSu0f0Q7E8 #illridewithyou
— Herald Sun (@theheraldsun) December 16, 2014
Women wearing the Islamic headscarf are said to be particularly anxious about public sentiment.
Going to be catching the train with my hijab-wearing mamabear to the city tomorrow. She's going in for work and I'm anxious #illridewithyou — Jennine Abdul Khalik (@jennineak) December 16, 2014People spontaneously handing out #IllRideWithYou stickers at Flinders St... Greatly work pic.twitter.com/uY1eOIG5g3
— Wolf Cocklin (@wolfcat) December 16, 2014