Toronto says #IllRideWithYou to Muslims after racist attacks
Like many Toronto residents, Kelly Boaz said she "naively assumed" the backlash against Muslims, seen elsewhere in the wake of Friday's deadly attack in Paris, wouldn't occur in Toronto.
But to date, at least four suspected anti-Muslim incidents, including an assault, have been reported:
- Two Muslim women were accosted and verbally harassed Wednesday night on a train at Sherbourne station.
- Metrolinx discovered anti-Muslim graffiti Wednesday night on one of its trains.
- A Muslim mother was assaulted and robbed Monday afternoon by two men at a North York school.
- A Muslim U of T student says he was spat on and insulted on the weekend.
"When I heard about the attack at the school in Toronto, my heart sank," said Boaz.
Boaz is among the dozens of Toronto transit riders who are offering to accompany Muslim riders by using the hashtag #IllRideWithYou.
The hashtag originated in the aftermath of the 16-hour standoff in Sydney in December 2014, in which a gunman burst into a café, taking 17 people hostage. Two people were killed along with the gunman.
Hostility and animosity toward Muslims grew in Australia, but were countered by offers to accompany those feeling unsafe or uncomfortable traveling alone.
"When I heard about the subway attacks, I remembered the #IllRideWithYou campaign," Boaz said.
Boaz said she wanted to, like dozens tweeting the sentiment, rekindle that movement in Toronto, though she was saddened by the need.
"As a woman, I often feel vulnerable when walking or riding public transit," Boaz said. But she said she recognizes "how much privilege I have, just by the accident of birth that gave me a white face."
"I can hopefully extend that privilege," she said.
Another hashtag, #StandWithMuslimsTO, trended Thursday evening, with dozens of tweets condemning the recent attacks and urging Toronto residents to not stand by idly.
"To me, Canada is a place where there's a higher standard of behaviour; somewhere we stick together and protect each other," Boaz said.
"I want us to live up to that."
