Anti-Muslim Hate Is Taking Its Toll

The impact of normalized Islamophobia on millions of Americans—and why silence is not an option

There are 8760 hours in a year. In 2024 there were a record 8,658 anti-Muslim discrimination complaints.

That’s essentially one act of anti-Muslim discrimination for every hour of every day for all 365 days of the year. It’s the highest ever recorded since CAIR began gathering this data in 1996—even higher than in the year after 9/11. What we’re seeing unfold isn’t just a political attack on a single candidate or community—it’s an all-out campaign to normalize anti-Muslim bigotry in America. And it’s working. Such dehumanizing hate ultimately leads to violence against minority communities. And I’m guessing this is probably the first you’ve heard about how severe this crisis has become. Let’s Address This.

The Real Threat: Not Fascism, But a Muslim for Mayor?

Across media, politics, and tech, the message is consistent: a Muslim who challenges the system is a threat, but a racist who maintains it is a leader. This isn’t just harming the 4–6 million Americans who are Muslim. It’s devastating entire generations—young people who are watching in real-time as bigotry is not only tolerated but rewarded.

Corporate media has been more outraged at the possibility of a Democratic Socialist like Zohran Mamdani entering New York’s Mayor’s office than at the certainty that a white supremacist has returned to the White House. The same outlets that condemn Mamdani over things he never even said meanwhile shrug at Donald Trump’s open racism that he definitely repeats. Trump, meanwhile, has taken to his national platform to condemn Mamdani at every turn, even threatening to arrest and deport him.

Silicon Valley Welcomes Racists

In Big Tech, the hypocrisy is just as grotesque. Elon Musk—a formerly undocumented white immigrant—can openly dehumanize Muslims, spread dangerous disinformation, and face zero accountability. Likewise, VC Shaun Maguire has gone on a lengthy sustained tirade of hate against American Muslims by claiming, among other things, that “lying is a virtue in Muslim culture.” He has faced zero consequences for his xenophobia and hate. On the contrary, an open letter from fellow Silicon Valley VCs, CEOs, and entrepreneurs actually backs Maguire’s racist and Islamophobic comments, declaring:

[Shauns’] words were not hate speech - they were the reflections of a principled thinker and a partner to countless founders who span geographies, faiths, and political beliefs.

While an earlier letter called for Maguire to apologize and to face consequences for his hate, this subsequent letter has already put that to rest. This isn’t just a double standard. It’s a roadmap for fascism.

Republicans, as expected, are going full throttle with anti-Muslim hate. They have long called us terrorists, demanded loyalty tests, and even pushed legislation to monitor, ban, and silence Muslim communities. This recent tweet by MAGA racist Congressman Randy Fine, directed at Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, exemplifies the point above.

But let’s not pretend this is only a GOP issue. Democrats are sadly joining in. And that’s perhaps the most devastating part about. There’s very little that Republicans have said to dehumanize American Muslims, that some Democratic Party leaders have not also said (and faced no consequences thereof). For example, corporate Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer are following a similar playbook: demand that Mamdani denounce statements he never made, while ignoring the violent, racist, and anti-Muslim rhetoric Trump shouts from every podium.

Even more disturbing, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand accused Zohran Mamdani of supporting “global jihad” and terrorism—an utterly baseless and reckless smear. She doubled and then tripled down in the same interview, refusing to acknowledge that she was lying and spreading disinformation.

After immense time and pressure—effort that could have been used to combat the Big Ugly Bill—she reportedly apologized to Zohran Mamdani in private. As of the writing of this piece she has refused to issue a public apology. And make no mistake: if the bigotry was public, the apology must be, too. Anything less is a refusal to acknowledge the harm already inflicted on millions of Muslims watching this unfold. Yet, that is the reality we face right now.

Media Institutions That Back Hate

Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Whitney Tilson—the long shot NYC mayoral candidate who smeared Mamdani with vile Islamophobic ads falsely accusing him of wanting to kill Jews—was tacitly endorsed by the New York Times. What message does that send to Muslim Americans about our place in this country?

While corporate media enabled hate, I must take a moment to recognize the courageous voice of Jewish New Yorkers, who loudly condemned Tilson’s anti-Muslim and Islamophobic bigotry. The fact is that antisemitism and Islamophobia are two sides of the same coin. It is a noble testament of the power of unity against hate, to see Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers stand united against Tilson’s bigotry.

The Real Toll: Violence, Silence, and Trauma

Let’s not kid ourselves. This isn’t just about political reputations or campaign narratives. When elected officials and national outlets spread lies about Muslims, they invite real violence into our communities. Hate speech leads to hate crimes. Dehumanization leads to murder. And the psychological toll on Muslim children—on our daughters, our sons, our students, our neighbors—is immeasurable.

They’re watching. They’re internalizing. And unless we act, they will carry these scars for life. And it isn’t just Muslim children. All children are watching and seeing the normalization of hate, and learning how to hate. This is why we cannot be silent, and why we must continue to loudly speak up against such hate.

I am grateful for this community that fights back. That sees through the lies. That refuses to let racism, Islamophobia, or authoritarianism define who we are or what our future holds. If you’re reading this, then you are part of that movement. And I’m asking you to stay engaged. Continue to speak out—in your schools, your churches, your synagogues, your temples, your mosques. Continue to engage with this content and let me know how I can better arm you with the knowledge to debunk anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate. And if you haven’t already, subscribe either as a free or paid subscriber. We will never have a paywall, but your support keeps this work going, especially as corporate media continues to fail. Last year we witnessed a record 8,658 anti-Muslim discrimination complaints. We have the power to drive that number down in 2025, but we must remain active against hate.

We don’t win this fight by playing it safe. We win by showing up. Loudly. Relentlessly. Truthfully. Let’s get to work.