Racist remarks directed at Muslims – or even those taken to be Muslim – have become alarmingly commonplace after 9/11. And the President, who actively targeted Muslims during his campaign with false claims, such as "thousands" of Muslim Americans cheering in New Jersey on 9/11, isn't helping matters.
In an event in September 2017, an angry white woman interrupted Sikh politician Jagmeet Singh's campaign event, shouting Islamophobic and spiteful statements at him, accusing him of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and Sharia, a set of laws based on Islamic tradition. Jagmeet, who is running to be the head of the New Democratic Party, one of Canada's political parties could've simply told the heckler, "I'm not a Muslim. I'm a Sikh." But he didn't. Instead, he chose love.
Singh, who was subjected to this barrage of anti-muslim comments has stepped out to explain why he chose to respond "with love and courage" instead of lashing out at the heckler or publicly condemning her as a bigot.
In the face of hate, Singh chose kindness and acceptance. Singh seemed undeterred by the woman's shouts of anti-Muslim slurs. Instead, he asked the audience, "What do we believe in?" He asked his guests to chant, “Love and courage.” Intending to set a positive tone in the room, he added, "We don't want hatred to ruin a positive event, so let's show people how we treat each other with love."
Singh didn't stop. He continued, "We welcome you. We love you. We support you." "Everyone in here loves you... this room is filled with loving people," he replied to the lady with calmness and sincerity. The audience applauded in favor. When confronted with this display of affection, the heckler stormed out.
In an era when political disagreements frequently devolve into angry heated debates that threaten to tear our nation apart, Singh demonstrated a different and more constructive approach.
Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can.", Singh echoed this sentiment. Even though this woman may have threatened Singh, he remained calm, poised, and kind. At no time did he show fear, anger, or even condescension to the woman reciting bigoted talking points.
Later, Singh released a statement explaining why he did not clarify that he was not Muslim. Possibly even more moving than Singh's reaction at the town hall are Singh's words. "My response to Islamophobia has never been 'I'm not Muslim,'" he wrote. "It has always been and will be that 'hate is wrong.'"
Singh's refusal to simply say, "I'm not Muslim," is something for which the Muslim community is incredibly grateful. Being a Sikh in North America has become difficult and even dangerous since 9/11 as a result of numerous instances of anti-Muslim actors mistaking Sikhs for Muslims.
Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh, was shot and killed while working at his petrol station in Mesa, Arizona, in the days following 9/11, making him the first person reportedly slain in the anti-Muslim backlash. "I stand for America all the way," the shooter said to the police after being arrested. The incident wasn't the last one. Gurudwaras, the Sikh places of worship, have been defaced with hateful graffiti. In 2012, a white supremacist killed six Sikhs at a Wisconsin gurudwara.
However, hatred does not end at the US-Canada border. Sikh temples and other places of worship have also been vandalized in Singh's country, including a Calgary gurudwara that had racist graffiti and swastikas spray-painted on its walls.
Singh along with his many supporters in the room decided to not stoop to the level of one bigot. In his closing remarks, Singh made observations that are relevant to both America and his native Canada. "We must stand united against all forms of hate," he said. "It takes love to understand that we're all in this together."
A video of the September 6 incident at Singh’s campaign event in Brampton, Ontario, went viral and has been viewed millions of times in Canada and around the world.
Jagmeet Singh is a practicing Sikh. Proud of his faith, he sports a long beard, wears a turban, and carries a kirpan. This Canadian Sikh politician has successfully battled racism with love. His speech and his cool-under-pressure reaction are legitimate lessons for all to learn. His moral compass and sense of fairness are rooted in Sikh tradition. His call for universal love is coherent with Sikhism. Spreading the message of love and courage to strengthen the connection between us all is the way to build a better world.