US Muslim responds to hate attack in supermarket by reminding unifying values

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Wednesday 23 Dec 2015 - 12:49 Makkah mean time-12-3-1437 New Orleans Louisiana, US (IINA) - An American Muslim responded to a hate attack in a New Orleans supermarket by reminding her attacker of the values that united them, not divided them, The Independent online news reported. Yasmin Sauders was shopping with her family when an unidentified man tossed a packet of bacon into their trolley, and laughingly told them: “merry Christmas buddy.” Yasmin described seeing the “pain” in the eyes of her 55-year-old father, as he was helpless to stop the abuse in front of her mother, who was wearing a headscarf, and two-year-old brother. Responding to the man, Yasmin who is married to a US serviceman, wrote in a Facebook post after the event: “We are Americans just like you. We cry with you and we bow our heads and pray when we have fallen service members." “We place our hand over our heart when we hear the pledge of allegiance just like you. We are not different and our faith and the color of our skin does not define us. We are afraid too, but we should not be afraid because of my religion." “We are fighting the same enemy. We are not the enemy. We are ordinary people just trying to get by. I am afraid and tormented for the world that our children have to grow up in.” Her post has been shared almost 4,000 times, with nearly 7,000 people liking the message and sending notes of support. Yasmin explained she had put the incident online because she wanted to show her family not everyone was like “that one guy.” “I got messages from all over the country,” Saunders said, adding she had expected “a lot more” negative comments. “They were so upset by what happened, they didn't want to go out in public anymore,” she told the Northwest Florida Journal. “Seeing all of the positive and supportive comments really left them surprised and humbled.” SM/IINA