The Women Of "One Million Hijabs"
Women across the world are wearing traditionally Muslim hijabs to protest the death of a Muslim woman in California. They say: “Hoodie or hijab, this needs to stop.”
Shaima Alwadi, a 32-year-old observant Muslim mother of five living in San Diego, was found beaten and unconscious on March 21 in her own home. Her daughter found her lying next to a note that reportedly labeled Alwadi as a terrorist. On March 24, she died of the injuries. Police are still investigating, but the murder is being identified by many as a hate crime.
In the days following, women across the country — and world — have come together in protest, largely on Facebook, forming a group called “One Million Hijabs For Shaima Alawadi.” In the group, women – both Muslim and not – post pictures of themselves wearing hijabs to show solidarity with Alwadi and the female Muslim community at large. The concept takes a cue from the Trayvon Martin protests, in which protestors wore hoodies to support the 17-year-old who was killed while wearing a hooded sweatshirt. As “One Million Hijabs” explains in its description, “There should not be an outfit that screams ‘kill me!’ Hoodie or hijab, this needs to stop.”
Here are ten of the many, many diverse women who have posted their photos and stories on the group’s page.
“I wear this Hijab which is in respect to all women who wear it within their own choice, i myself am a protester from Occupy Dame street left a piece of my soul in Tahrir square and heart in Gaza.” - Saroise
“I’m Catholic of Mexican descent (we are very fond of Mother Mary), but I really truly do support my sisters who were the Hijab….I am a believer in 1 God, If you call him Allah, Jesus, Krishna, etc. I don’t care as long as you have faith.” - Luciana
“My hijab represents the fact that I am a Muslim…before I covered people had no idea I was a Muslim and had no problem with me, since I have covered people have treated me differently, over a piece of cloth…it doesn’t change who I am, just what I choose to look like.” - Tina
“When someone tells you to go tack to where you came from, they should go too. All of us are from somewhere but we chose to live here for the same reasons everyone else did.” - MalakNiazi
“I am an office manager in a local Christian church. I took this picture to support the friends and family of Shaima Alawadi and made it my profile picture. I plan to wear it to my church during services and I urge others to do the same.” - Jean
“I live in Bay City , MI and I am Roman Catholic and I will wear this when I go out this weekend in protest of hate.” - Suzanna
“I am a Theologian with a focus on Christian-Muslim Understanding, as well as religious fundamentalism and extremism. My daughter took this picture of me when she and I were in Old Delhi, India - at the Great Mosque - 2010. I covered to show my respect and honor a religion not my own.” - Karen
“I am a Detroit school teacher and have been wearing a hijab for almost a week as a symbol against bigotry and discrimination…The support and love from my students and community has been almost overwhelming.” - Lauralyn
“I am a white American, a Presbyterian, a lesbian, married to my wife for 9 years, mother to a son and a daughter. I put on this hijab as a symbol that I believe we are all obligated, as human beings, to nurture respect and tolerance, and that we must raise our voices against hatred, fear, ignorance, and violence.” - Liza
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lolosel a year agoI am so proud, happy and grateful to be a free American woman- I don’t need religion, men, or God to dictate what I should wear! Every day I stand tall with my long hair flowing in the breeze, just the way GOD made me. My modesty is something I carry in my heart- it doesn’t have to do with body coverings. I pray to God that all women will be freed from the delusion that these scarfs are necessary to have a happy life.
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SamTheEagle a year agoHOORAY FOR WEARING THE ULTIMATE SIGN OF FEMALE OPPRESSION! Especially when tens of thousands of muslim women are fighting tooth and nail daily to not be veiled, and perhaps one day live in a world where they don’t have acid thrown in their face for going out uncovered.
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