Islamophobia in the age of Trump

IF YOU cuss,' said the chairman of Newton County's commissioners at the beginning of a public meeting on August 22nd, 'I'm going to ask you to go home.' In the event, many of the contributions were graciously hedged with Southern manners: gratitude to the commissioners for letting residents air their thoughts on the proposed new mosque on the outskirts of Covington, the county seat; frequent appeals to God to guide the community's decisions; even a few commendations for the bravery of those citizens who spoke up for the constitutional rights of Muslims. And brave they were, because they comprised only a small minority, and, beneath the civility, the views of the majority were often vitriolic.So many people wanted to attend the event at the courthouse in Covington, Georgia, that it was divided into two sittings. Hundreds of people queued for admission outside. At issue was the purchase, last year, of 135 acres by a Muslim group from nearby Doraville, on which they intend to build a mosque and other facilities, including a cemetery; news of the acquisition emerged only recently. Opponents of the project made three main...Continue reading
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