By CARMEN GAEBE
Staff Writer
On September 11th our country was faced with one of the most prolific terrorist attacks in our history. The World Trade Center was attacked and in the end destroyed by a terrorist group; al-Qaeda. Last Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of September 11th. Since the attack so many things have affected the lives of all Americans. An issue that was only then intensified after 9/11 was the extreme prejudice and racism against Muslims and other Arab-Americans. After the attack Mosques were burned and destroyed and many Muslims began to receive death threats and were attacked in the street, “Hate crimes against Muslims rose 1617% from 2000 to 2001” according to an FBI report taken at the time. This type of hate and racism against Muslims and Arab-Americans is still felt today where many examples like in 2019 when “Two Muslim men had their American Eagle flight canceled last Saturday because one of the men – an AAdvantage Executive Platinum member – used the plane’s lavatory while the flight was delayed on the ground and because passengers and crew don’t like flying with Muslims.” This type of discrimination is so unjust. So many people lost their live, not only in the twin towers, but as first responders at the attack helping civilians and many of those who died were Muslim. “This is our community, this is our country, and there were Muslims who lost their lives in those towers, who were Muslim firefighters, who lost their lives.” said Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. Even though Muslim hate since the initial attack has slowly begun to calm down, the effects of it are still seen today.