Metro Detroit Muslims Express Fears Facing A Trump Presidency
DEARBORN (WWJ) - There are concerns in metro Detroit's Muslim community following Donald Trump's big win.
This after U.S. President-Elect touted plans for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims " entering the country and an "extreme vetting process" for Muslim refugees.
In Michigan — home to a large Arab-American and Muslim community — Muslim Council Chairman Dr. Muzammil Ahmed said many Muslims are apprehensive about what may be to come under a Trump presidency, as are other minority groups.
"Some of the rhetoric during the election made a lot of immigrants, a lot of immigrants, a lot of Hispanics, a lot of people in the LGBT community very uncomfortable, and even threatened," Ahmed told WWJ's Zahra Huber. "And we hope that, as the presidency unfolds, that this is just rhetoric and not something that is going to be implemented into policy."
Ahmed said recently, there's been a dramatic rise in hate crimes, which he attributes to this campaign.
"And even school bullying and a lot of hazing incidents; so that is concerning," Ahmed said. "But we hope now that the election cycle is over that people will calm down and be calm, take the time to listen and speak to each other and we need a period of healing from such a traumatic election cycle."
Ahmed is optimistic, however, that America will pull together for the better.
He encourages Muslim-Americans and immigrants to let their voices be heard.
"We need to make sure that civil rights are protected," Ahmed said. "We need to make sure that we communicate the positive things that the immigrant community has brought to Michigan and brought to the United States.
"We employ many people, we add a lot to the economy, we add a lot to the culture, and we hope that that's remembered as we make policies and decisions about the future of our country."
In a town hall-style presidential debate last month, Trump was asked by a Muslim audience member: "How will you help people like me deal with the consequences of being labeled as a threat to the country after the election is over?"
"You're right about Islamophobia and that's a shame," he replied, adding: "Muslims have to report the problems when they see them. And you know there's always a reason for everything. If they don't do that, it's a very difficult situation for our country."
The President-elect struck a more inclusive tone early in his speech following Hillary Clinton's concession Wednesday morning, saying: "Now it's time for America to bind the wounds of division; have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people...It's time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me."