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From Samar Magazine:

After 2001 there was also a burst of hope for a different future. With this came a new enthusiasm for struggle in movements for social justice. Many of us came together – and some were already in these circles for some time previous – looking for common cause and a way to change the world. Immigrants and other communities of color were under attack and faced persecution and state violence at a level that had not been seen in several decades. Seeking knowledge that translated into action was how those in these circles approached the post-9/11 world. Ten years later it feels like the thrill is gone. Obama is in the White House and we have a war on terror not called the war on terror that is equal if not worse than the one waged by Bush and company. Where did all the hard work go? What were the victories, and how did we collectively push back against the tide of racial hatred that followed 9/11? And although the Arab Spring has been an amazing and heartwarming example of the hunger for change worldwide, what will happen next in many of these countries as struggles for a better future continue?

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In spite of the on-going work of community based organizations and committed activists, the national debates on Islamophobia and immigration are often nonsensical and misinformed. Muslims are now demonized across the United States in ways that are difficult and trying. Alternatively, the rise of Islamophobia has also meant a growth in exciting activist and organizing work from Muslim Americans that counters these hateful perceptions and is actively seeking social justice through models of multiracial and interfaith work. And in many ways the immigrant rights movement, built on such models, has been far more successful as a national platform because of its ability to appeal to people of diverse backgrounds.

The rest of this article can be found here.

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