A young woman named Maigan Kennedy says she was harassed with anti-Muslim hate speech in Cameron Village, North Carolina for wearing a scarf on her head—and she isn’t even Muslim, she just wore a scarf because it was raining (though that gauzy scarf couldn’t have provided much protection). Kennedy decided not to tell the person who harassed her that she wasn’t Muslim, however. “I didn’t want to confirm his argument that being Muslim is somehow wrong,” Kennedy wrote. “I also didn’t want the scene to escalate by engaging in a verbal (or, heaven forbid, physical) fight with him.” Instead, she went with a perfect, two-word response.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Her Instagram caption reads:
Went shopping in Cameron Village before going to the theatre tonight. It was raining and I had straightened my hair, so I pulled part of my infinity scarf over my head (I’m vain). Walking by one of the bars, I passed a man who scoffed loudly and called after me, “Fuc*in’ Muslims.” I whipped around to confront him, but I saw the smug look on his face. He wanted a fight. I didn’t want to argue his claim that I might be Muslim (though I am not), because I didn’t want to confirm his argument that being Muslim is somehow wrong. I also didn’t want the scene to escalate by engaging in a verbal (or, heaven forbid, physical) fight with him. I smiled politely and said, “Merry Christmas,” then continued walking to my car, because I opted to fight willful ignorance with kindness. My heart goes out to the Muslim men and women who experience this kind of hatred and bigotry on a daily basis. #muslimsarenotterrorists
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