To the Washington University in St. Louis Community and Administration:

We want to extend our condolences to all the lives lost and affected by the 9/11 attacks. Innocent lives were lost in a tragic and traumatic way and deserve to be mourned. However, we, members of the Washington University community, will not tolerate the Islamophobic, racist and xenophobic attacks made by WashU students and unaffiliated individuals targeting Fadel Alkilani. While there may be differing opinions on Fadel’s choice of protest, the subsequent Islamophobic and racist response to his protest was intolerable. Furthermore, the Chancellor’s statement released on Sept. 12 in response to these events undermined the objective of Fadel’s protest, which was to educate our community, and erased the oppression and violence that Muslims world-wide have endured as a result of 9/11.

While the American flag is a symbol of the American lives lost, it is also the symbol of American imperialism and violence in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and beyond. Black, Brown and Muslim Americans uniquely grieve both the lives lost on 9/11 as well as the millions of lives lost over the past twenty years in the Middle East. For students to attack a Muslim student, spread misinformation and use Fadel’s protest as a justification for Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism, and with the support of the Chancellor and the rest of the University, is reprehensible and goes against what our community stands for.

Fadel reported being verbally and physically harassed by numerous WashU students and WUPD officers. Rather than engaging in dialogue that could have resulted in mutual understanding, a member of the WashU College Republicans recorded a video of him, which was shared on various social media platforms and with the Young America’s Foundation (YAF). This allowed the story to be picked up by various news outlets, including Fox News and The Daily Mail. This opened an avenue for WashU students, community members and unaffiliated individuals to engage in targeted harassment and spew racist and Islamaphobic comments against Fadel. This hostile social media campaign allowed people to dox and violently threaten both Fadel and members of his family, endangering their safety.

We are hurt by Chancellor Martin’s statement that failed to condemn the Islamophobia against Fadel and erased the varied experiences of numerous populations of students (Black, Brown and Muslim) on this campus while centering his own experience of the tragedy of 9/11. These students continuously suffer due to the Islamophobia perpetuated as a result of 9/11, and their countries have seen war and violence under the symbol of the American flag. For the Chancellor to completely ignore and fail to mention the violent threats and statements against Muslims, and Fadel specifically, is disgraceful and incredibly painful to the WashU students who struggle daily with violent Islamophobia. Moreover, to allow xenophobic and Islamophobic hate to proliferate unchecked on all of WashU’s social media platforms is intolerable and directly puts students in harm’s way. The endangerment and targeting of Muslim students goes against the values of community, diversity, inclusion and equity at Washington University. We believe it is the University’s responsibility to ensure that it fosters a safe community for all its students, and that WashU has failed to do so. Many Muslim and Brown students, particularly those who are visibly identifiable either by their hijabs, turbans, etc., do not feel safe on campus and are hesitant to attend classes tomorrow. Some Muslim students have received threatening emails targeting them and Islam from individuals unaffiliated with the University. Islamophobia and racism have always existed at WashU. Addressing the recent events without acknowledging Islamophobia and its devastating impact on the Black, Brown and Muslim communities only further perpetuates hateful sentiments and condones this hostile environment.

We demand that Washington University publicly condemn the Islamophobic and racist attacks by WashU students and community members against Fadel Alkilani. We demand an investigation and disciplinary action of any students who spread misinformation, posted Islamophobic and racist comments on social media , threatened Fadel and doxxed his family online. These actions have violated the University’s policies on discrimination and harrassment. The University’s lack of action has also enabled these individuals to feel empowered while making Muslim students feel unsafe and unwelcome on their own campus. We demand that the University  protect Fadel and other students on campus who are fearful for their safety. Lastly, we stand against any extreme disciplinary action as a consequence of political expression and free speech.

Several student organizations and over 1700 students, faculty, community members and other concerned people signed an online version of this statement.

Editor’s note: Student Life initially published this opinion submission with the names of the students who authored the piece. After far-right media began spreading the community statement online, the authors requested their names be removed from the piece for their safety. Given the extent of Islamophobic hatred and threats directed at students online in connection with this story, we have made the decision to remove the authors’ names. Please email our Forum editors at [email protected] with any questions or concerns about this decision.