check out the muslim news uk website and have a look at their message board which is plastered with the most awful threats and abuse. a horrorfing insight into the true nature of the war machinery that has been unleashed.

I have just had first hand experience of the racism that is emerging.

On my street I overheard a man talking loudly about wanting to be given a gun so he could go and shoot some muslims.

I challenged him. What I think I heard was not only misplaced anger but a lot of fear as well. He believed that if the US war means a war on islam then muslims in this country will fight too. Of course this is ridiculous. But for the last 10 years and longer we have been subjected to propoganda which makes the following equation

Arab=Iraqi=Palestinian=Terrorist=Muslim

I think every person who is against racism can do something to counter the backlash.
Here are some ideas

Talk to people you know, including people who are not political types, friends and family, people you work with, people in shops, in pube, wherever. Particularly older people who did not grow up in a muliticultural society. To those who don't agree with racism explain why it is important for as many white british people as possible to be saying our asian and muslim citizens are out brothers and sisters. They should be protected not attacked.

Some people may express the sort of hate I heard. Don't be angry with them, we are in a cycle of anger and vengence and fear, getting angry at people who are afraid will only keep the cycle going. Instead be patient. Let them express their views. Such people are scared because they fear that there are suicide bombers living amongst us. So these people see a muslim and are afraid. Explain why their fears are groundless. That if it was wrong to kill people indiscrimately in the US, then it wrong to attack people indiscriminatly in the UK for their religion. That everyone has the right to live free from fear of attack. But also make it clear that if they do attack muslims then there are plenty of non-muslims who will put themselves between the racists and muslims

Other things to do
Letters to the media and calls to phone in programmes saying that vengence is not the answer and that muslims should be defended,
Talk to muslim and arab friends and acquaintances offer help to them if they need it,
got to the local mosques and offer support,
if you are part of a group maybe you could offer to go and be at the mosques during prayers so that they can go ahead without fear.

Respond to any attacks in your area with protests
Paint out any racist graffitti immediately

contact peace groups and organise vigils, that say
Stop the cycle of killing
vengence is not the answer
peace here and in the rest of the world
Killing is not the answer
Muslims are our brothers and sisters
We are all human, we all have the right to live in peace - muslim too

Maybe make posters for your windows that say these things



Tuesday has shown how fragile certainties can be, we are very lucky to live in a society which is basically peaceful and fairly tolerant compared to much of the world. If we wish this to continue then those of us who disagree with racism must speak out, so that our voices are heard too.

What a well thought out and considerate post. Honest congratulations to you. I hope there are enough people thinking like you out there in the world today for some kind of fairness and common sense to prevail.

rascism is bad enuf already wifout this added scapegoatin of coloured type peoples. the pigs have taken added to and advantage of this surge in rascism by decidin to conveiniently post photos of bradford riot suspects, hopin that the increasin rascist tidal wave will make their job of chasing up rioters alot easier. notice the way they dont post photos of nf and bnp rioters thats impartiality for ya. wat makes media created mass hysteria of corny cheesy tacky capitalist grief so credible yet the tears of millions of children straving in africa unpalatable and non newsworthy. this is mass orchestrated propaganda and manipulation of the ordinary publics emotions of the most cynical kind to generate rascism and target ethnic people for physical and violent rascist abuse, i feel very sorry for the muslim community who are a visible target and also defenceless scapegoats. people cannot change their colour so there is no where to hide from those who choose to target innocent coloured people. rascism is bitchy sick and cowardly, and i for one will be standin beside my coloured and muslim compatriots and i will walk the gauntlet wif them.

asalmu alaikum and hello again..
coming back to indymedia after some days - hey, its really good to see how indymedia and friends have responded to things. thats soo... good! god bless ya!!

Dear sir,

how can anyone defend the actions of Muslims.
The last few weeks in the free west we have been innundated with abusive and offensive e-mails from the so called tolerant people of Islam.
We have to listen to them raving and ranting, they can and are given carte blanche to shout Death to America and the West.
I am not allowed by u.k and European laws to use such hateful language.
Where is the justice, I am afraid it has been one sided for too long.
The muslim communities around the globe are now on the receiving end of the terror they have inflicted to non.muslims for decades.
Instead of the medias telling us how unfair we are being to muslims, I suggest that you inform your readers of the attacks Christians and other religious groups are suffering in the world.