On November 27, the Islamic Center of Lexington, Kentucky received an email vowing that “I’m going to kill everyone… there you Muslim f***s.” On November 24, when congregants at the Islamic Center of South Plains in Lubbock, Texas arrived for morning prayers, they found the mosque’s glass door smashed. On November 21, a group of armed protesters surrounded the Islamic Center of Irving, Texas, and then posted the names and addresses of local Muslims on Facebook. On November 20, the Islamic Center of Corpus Christi, Texas received a letter demanding that congregants “convert to Christianity now, before it is too late.” On November 17, police arrested a Houston man for threatening to “shoot up a mosque.” On November 16, the Islamic Center of Omaha, Nebraska was vandalized for the third time in four months. On November 15, worshipers arrived at the Baitul Aman Mosque in Meriden, Connecticut to find it riddled with bullet holes. On November 13, the Islamic Center of St. Petersburg, Florida received a call threatening to “firebomb you and shoot whoever is there.” On November 12, attackers smeared feces and vandalized Korans inside The Islamic Center of Pflugerville, Texas.
If you don’t think the United States is witnessing an epidemic of anti-Muslim bigotry, you’re not paying attention. It’s fueled by the savagery of ISIS. And it’s fueled by presidential candidates like Ben Carson, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, who declare that Islam is “not consistent with the Constitution,” insist that America accept only Christian refugees and propose that the government register Muslims and close mosques. Because of their hateful opportunism, which is echoed daily in conservative media, less than a majority of Iowa Republicans now believe Islam should be legal in the United States.
