Islamophobia is defined as the dislike or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a force. On the night of Saturday, September 10, a Muslim woman standing outside the Valentino store on Fifth Ave.

Around 9 p.m., she was outside in what was described as “traditional Muslim clothing” by Mic.com. Her blouse was set on fire and luckily she was able to get the flame out herself but this was a clear act of racism and terrorism.

The article says that the New York Police Department Hate Crimes Task Force is currently investigating the crime to determine if it is a hate crime, but isn’t it already obvious? I personally feel that it was a blatant attack on Muslims, especially because it was the day before 9/11. People are ignorant and after September 11, 2001, crimes against Muslims skyrocketed. According to the FBI, before 9/11 there were about 20-30 anti-Muslim crimes per year, now there are between 100 and 150.

This needs to stop. Why would you ever attack someone, whether it be physically, mentally, or verbally, because of their religion? A religion that has nothing to do with bringing harm to others? Many people think it’s okay because of who the government said did it, but it’s not. No matter who they believe did it, it isn’t right to go attacking people or calling all people terrorists.

Even last week in Brooklyn, good ol’ gentrified Brooklyn, there were two Muslim women who were walking with their children and a woman approached them yelling “Get the f*ck out of America, b*tches” while trying to tear off their hijabs.

People are literally having articles of clothing torn off of them because they aren’t Christian. It doesn’t make sense though, these people committing these hate crimes are not Christian. Or they are the fakest Christians I have ever seen. Now, I don’t know much about the bible but I do know that there’s a part in there that says “love thy neighbor” and I’m pretty sure there were no “except if they’re Muslim” clauses.

Why can’t you REAL terrorists, the ones attacking these innocent Muslim people, get it together. You are the terrorist. You are the evil person. You are not a good person. You are not doing a good deed for anyone. You are the one who needs to “get out of America”, go back to your home country because I’m pretty positive Native Americans aren’t the ones committing these crimes.