After Ted Cruz called for a program to “patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods” — an idea immediately condemned as unconstitutional and ineffective — Muslims on Twitter responded with the hashtag #MyMuslimNeighborhood, a tongue-in-cheek way to push back against the idea that “Muslim neighborhoods” either exist or pose any kind of threat.
#MyMuslimNeighborhood: Muslims’ moving response to Ted Cruz
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Libby Nelson was Vox’s editorial director, politics and policy, leading coverage of how government action and inaction shape American life. Libby has more than a decade of policy journalism experience, including at Inside Higher Ed and Politico. She joined Vox in 2014.
Some used it to demonstrate how a Muslim neighborhood is just an American neighborhood:
In #MyMuslimNeighborhood the firemen live next door to us with a dog named 'Freckles' & the police academy is down the street.
— Fawzia Mirza (@thefawz) March 23, 2016
In #MyMuslimNeighborhood we have community gardens tht feed the poor, and our families @tedcruz pic.twitter.com/7WeiaiPTZm
— Laura-Elizabeth (@laura_garvock) March 24, 2016
In #MyMuslimNeighborhood we host annual blood drives to honor 9/11 victims. So far we have collected over 35,000 blood donations.#Brussels
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 23, 2016
Hey @tedcruz in #MyMuslimNeighborhood we cheer for the @steelers on football Sunday's! #GodsTeam pic.twitter.com/O3HdKhBoNw
— Bilal Billy Amen (@BillyAmen) March 24, 2016
Or to show that neighborhoods where Muslims live are often examples of interfaith cooperation large and small, and of religion motivating people to do good:
My Muslim kids play with the orthodox Jewish kids across the street. They're all BFF. Send the cops @tedcruz. #MyMuslimNeighborhood
— Amal (@dsrtprincess) March 24, 2016
In #MyMuslimneighborhood we feed and clothe the homeless, that is our jihad. @MCNNY at your service. pic.twitter.com/UfJQFhUVNq
— Debbie Almontaser (@DebbiAlmontaser) March 23, 2016
In #MyMuslimNeighborhood of Jackson Heights, #Queens we live, work, eat, and play together. pic.twitter.com/RGvjRe6lq4
— St. Mark's Church (@Saint_Marks) March 23, 2016
Or to poke fun at the idea of a “Muslim neighborhood” in the first place:
#MyMuslimNeighborhood has a suspicious number of Toyota and Honda minivans parked in the driveways.
— Amanda Quraishi (@ImTheQ) March 23, 2016
In #MyMuslimNeighborhood we have a hard time taking a decent family photo where everyone is looking at the camera pic.twitter.com/LIiKW0eaYA
— Suehaila Amen (@SuehailaAmen) March 23, 2016
And a few took the opportunity to point out that Islamophobia in the US is a much bigger threat than whatever Cruz imagines is happening in “Muslim neighborhoods”:
In #myMuslimNeighborhood The problem is not Muslim terrorists, but terrorists who hate Muslims. pic.twitter.com/0lOpskgYuW
— CPJME Indy (@CpjmeIndy) March 23, 2016
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