Australians Offer To Ride Transit With Muslims In Mass Rejection Of Bigotry

Michael Bolen The Huffington Post Canada

"Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear."

Those words may belong to a Canadian, but it was Australians who lived them on Monday.

Amid a hostage crisis in Sydney, people offered to ride transit with muslim Australians who wear religious clothing in a mass rejection of racism and bigotry.

It all started with one person and the hashtag #illridewithyou

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

Maybe start a hashtag? What’s in #illridewithyou?
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014

Others quickly took up the call

I'm in. If u wear religious garments & feel unsafe on public transport, I'll sit with u. Redfern-KX, peak hrs. #illridewithyou @sirtessa
— Mia Lazzarini (@mialazzarini) December 15, 2014

Practical thing: I've made a temporary sticker for my bag so people who need me can spot me #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/aVldEn9wVU
— Kristen Boschma (@Kristen_Boschma) December 15, 2014

This is me on the tram: if you feel vulnerable because dickheads & you see me, let's travel together. #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/fgMy1sgXRu
— St Comrade Badhamus (@vanbadham) December 15, 2014

And made people feel both safe and proud

The #illridewithyou hashtag makes me so proud to be Australian. Thanks for the support everyone. ;)
— Mifrah Mahroof (@MifrahMahroof) December 15, 2014

I was going to drive to work tomorrow but seeing the outpouring of support changed my mind. #illridewithyou Thank you. See you on the train!
— Ozge Sevindik (@OzgeSevindik) December 15, 2014

This is my Australia. Being a Muslim this hashtag is the best thing happened today. I Love You Australia. #illridewithyou
— Arif (@Atozai) December 15, 2014

Thanks for protecting my sisters #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/Qy9l0lN1qB
— Angger Prawitasari (@anggerwitasari) December 15, 2014

The campaign has gone totally viral

UPDATE: There has now been more than 90,000 mentions of #illridewithyou tonight http://t.co/Yg80kag6qz #amazing pic.twitter.com/SEliFNmOfF
— Twitter Australia (@TwitterAU) December 15, 2014

Just one more example of how much Canada and Australia share

Australians and Canadians have a lot in common http://t.co/nWrfKQznky #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/WtnBK5q0Zo
— Michael Bolen (@MichaelBolen) December 15, 2014

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