During the second presidential debate on Sunday night, a Muslim-American woman asked candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump about what they will do to combat growing Islamaphobia in the country. But when the Republican nominee said that “Muslims have to report the problems when they see them,” and Clinton urged them to “be part of our eyes and ears,” their answers immediately backfired on social media.
The hashtag #MuslimsReportStuff quickly went viral, as Muslims took to Twitter to blast Trump and the hypocrisy of the responses.
Creepy orange clowns sighted recently across the country. Some say they saw one pacing the debate stage tonight. #Muslimsreportstuff
— Zainab Chaudry (@zainabnc) October 10, 2016
Grammatically challenged orange man with control issues interrupts lady 18 times on national stage, humping chair #MuslimsReportStuff
— Naveen Bokhari (@naveenbokhari) October 10, 2016
Terrorists. #MuslimsReportStuff pic.twitter.com/Vb8VCDu4D8
— Donna Auston (@TinyMuslimah) October 10, 2016
Some of the tweets were serious, pointing out injustices that Muslims face everyday.
I am bullied and harassed by Trump supporters EVERY DAY. #MuslimsReportStuff
— Amelia Noor-Oshiro (@Amelia_Inc) October 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/qudsiaraja/status/785308947007807488
Other tweets riffed on the absurdity of the candidates’ answers.
I did laundry this morning but still haven't put it away #MuslimsReportStuff
— Sana (@sanamasuds) October 10, 2016
Trader Joe's has a sale on dried mangoes #MuslimsReportStuff
— TariqTouré طارق تورى (@TariqToure) October 10, 2016
I think my sister drank orange juice straight out of the carton, will continue to investigate #MuslimsReportStuff
— brown sugar (@MrCommonCents) October 10, 2016
Islamophobia has surged in the past year, due in large part to Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric about “radical Islamic terrorism.” During his campaign, he’s proposed a ban on Muslims trying to enter the country, advocated the creation of a database to keep tabs on those who already reside in the U.S, smeared the family of a Muslim American war hero, and bashed Muslims for ignoring terrorist threats.
But, as the Washington Post reports, FBI Director James Comey says that Muslims have already been reporting threats to the agency.