"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, 2014Maybe start a hashtag? What’s in #illridewithyou?
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014Others 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, 2014Practical thing: I've made a temporary sticker for my bag so people who need me can spot me #illridewithyoupic.twitter.com/aVldEn9wVU
— Kristen Boschma (@Kristen_Boschma) December 15, 2014This is me on the tram: if you feel vulnerable because dickheads & you see me, let's travel together. #illridewithyoupic.twitter.com/fgMy1sgXRu
— St Comrade Badhamus (@vanbadham) December 15, 2014And 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, 2014I 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, 2014This is my Australia. Being a Muslim this hashtag is the best thing happened today. I Love You Australia. #illridewithyou
— Arif (@Atozai) December 15, 2014Thanks for protecting my sisters #illridewithyoupic.twitter.com/Qy9l0lN1qB
— Angger Prawitasari (@anggerwitasari) December 15, 2014The campaign has gone totally viral
UPDATE: There has now been more than 90,000 mentions of #illridewithyou tonight http://t.co/Yg80kag6qz#amazingpic.twitter.com/SEliFNmOfF
— Twitter Australia (@TwitterAU) December 15, 2014Just one more example of how much Canada and Australia share
Australians and Canadians have a lot in common http://t.co/nWrfKQznky#illridewithyoupic.twitter.com/WtnBK5q0Zo
— Michael Bolen (@MichaelBolen) December 15, 2014
Related on HuffPost:
