Washington University in St. Louis’ (along with that of local and national community members) treatment of an undergraduate student’s interrupted protest exemplifies the anti-Muslim sentiment that has dramatically increased these past 20 years since 9/11. Muslims are immediately labeled as anti-American terrorists and are automatically and unduly prescribed guilt. 

If this student’s right to respond to a student-created memorial had not been interrupted and denied, his intentions would have been clearer. When one takes the time (literally less than five minutes) to read his formal statement around this flag relocation, one sees and understands Fadel’s intent behind his protest, which was to explain “the human cost of 9/11 in the past 20 years.” In his statement, Fadel shares statistics around the conservative estimated death toll of not only 9/11 but also the War on Terror that followed — 900,000 people dead. These statistics, which come from Brown University’s Costs of War Project, also show that nearly 50% of these 900,000 deaths were civilians, just as many of the 9/11 victims were. To only memorialize and reflect upon the deaths of the 9/11 victims is inherently America-centric and Islamophobic, as the 900,000 deaths that followed 9/11 are just as important and cannot be forgotten or excluded from the conversation and memorialization. 

Fadel also includes information about the 20 years of assaults and hate crimes that Muslims have faced in the United States. Today, more Americans believe Islam is more likely to encourage violence than other religions than they did in March 2002. Anti-Muslim sentiment has been present in every election since 2001, from the 54 percent of Republicans who believed that Obama was “deep down” a Muslim in 2014, to Trump’s false claims that “‘thousands and thousands’ of Muslims cheered in New Jersey when the World Trade Center collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001,” and that “Islam hates us.” 

After reading Fadel’s statement, it is clear to me that his interrupted planned protest was not anti-American at all, as many online are claiming, nor was it disrespectful to the 2,997 victims of 9/11. Rather, his protest upheld one of America’s claimed central values, “liberty and justice for all,” as he planned to highlight the larger impact of 9/11 on global populations. His protest, if he had been allowed to actualize his plans, would have asked us to consider the long-term injustices and impacts of the acts of 9/11, notably 20 years of war, destruction and death. 

In fact, returning to the widespread “anti-American” claims being thrown at Fadel, what is actually “anti-American” is: 

• Threatening Fadel, his family and Muslim individuals and communities.
• Doxxing him, putting his safety and privacy at risk. 
• This University’s public statements that shame Fadel and refuse to share his story and perspective. 
• This University’s conduct violation investigation against Fadel and not the students who have threatened him on social media. 

Where is the accountability for this University, the Chancellor and his harmful email and these other students involved? Where is the effort to protect the safety of Muslim and non-Muslim Black and brown students and faculty? Where is the acknowledgement that the Young America’s Foundation organization, which supports the WashU College Republicans that have led the crusade against Fadel, has spread anti-Muslim rhetoric and continues to do so (as evident in the organization’s recent tweet)? Have we considered that their reaction to this protest might not be about 9/11 victims at all but might actually just be fuel for their anti-Muslim and anti-Islam fire? 

The University should: 

• Listen to the Muslim community, who are the ones most impacted by this event, the national coverage and the threats of violence coming from every direction. Their voices should be amplified. 
• Consider and listen to the non-Muslim communities that are also impacted by this event, including many other Black and brown students whose safety is also threatened. 
• Take very clear steps to promote and ensure the safety of these students, faculty and community members. 
• Immediately suspend the investigation into Fadel’s alleged misconduct, as his actions do not violate any rules in the Code of Conduct. 
• Investigate the students and organizations that have directly threatened Fadel. 
• Apologize, authentically, to Fadel for their numerous harmful and inaccurate statements (especially Chancellor Andrew Martin). 
• Provide more spaces and events for students to learn about the long-term effects of 9/11 and the War on Terror from those most impacted by it.