Hate Mail Of The Weak

Here's what happens when you advocate for due process of law

How do you respond to horrid bigotry, especially when it’s in response to protecting constitutional rights?

I periodically share this more personal side of my advocacy for human rights because it is important to me that you, my gracious supporters, see what I see. Apologies in advance for the vulgar language in the screen shots below. I discuss the above question in a new issue of “Hate Mail of the Weak.” Let’s Address This

How It Started

As a human rights lawyer, I have always been relentless in my calls to protect due process of law. Due process is the last line of defense between a functioning republic and a deteriorating dictatorship. When I learned that Trump’s advisor Stephen Miller is floating the idea of suspending Habeas Corpus, I loudly and clearly condemned the very suggestion itself.

Unfortunately, the Overton Window has already shifted enough that MAGA cultists seem quite alright with the idea of shredding our Constitution and denying people due process of law. This is, to say it bluntly, horrifying for the future of our nation, and requires that we raise our voices loudly to hold the line and protect due process for all people in this country. Here are just a snapshot of the responses to me daring to demand due process of law.

The Racist Responses

Suffice it to say, they seem to have an obsession with my name, Qasim Rashid. Qasim, for those wondering, not only rhymes with Awesome, it also means “Handsome” and “One who distributes charity.” My last name, “Rashid,” means “Rightly guided.” I would submit that there are worse things in the world than being named the handsome distributor of charity who is rightly guided.

Then the conversation shifted to extremely confusing racism. Apparently they seem to think an American citizen who immigrated from Pakistan is Black?

And to reaffirm what I’ve long said, Islamophobia and antisemitism are two disgusting sides of the same coin, hence the next grotesque commentator.

And for good measure, the hate lasted pretty much throughout the day. Some how I’m Pakistani, Black, and Arab, all at once.

The Lesson on Civics and English

I did take a moment to educate one particular troll on basic things like English spelling and grammar, due process of law, and the difference between colleges and collages.

Finally, I close this episode of Hate Mail of the Weak with a claim by a self-described “Christian” (who is behaving anything but Christ-like) that “my business will soon dry up.” What is my business?

Well, my “business” is upholding human rights universally for all people of all backgrounds. And I am grateful to the growing community of supporters I have. So let me close with this overview and ask.

The Bottom Line

The above are all snapshots of unfortunately more hate messages than I can count. But I am not backing down, and I ask you to stand with me against hate and injustice.

I share these experiences because I want you, my readers, to see and understand the unfiltered reality in which so many immigrants, minorities, and Black and brown people experience on the daily. Accordingly, let me reemphasize my appreciation to each of you for supporting my work and advocacy. I want you to know that when you subscribe, whether for free or at $6/month, your support helps me continue to build a platform committed to justice as human rights.

Second, I emphasize again how the most common response to condemning injustice, is more injustice. This is done to maintain the status quo and why it is not enough to condemn injustice—we must be actively pro-justice to ensure we protect our basic rights.

Third and finally, we must respond by speaking up loudly. We do this by sharing our stories and investing our time and resources to elevate people doing the work to uphold justice. You have my promise to always speak up and uphold justice above all else, period. Let us continue to demand that more humane and just future for this generation and the next.

Are you in?