US soliders tweet #IWillProtectYou to Muslim girl who is afraid of deportation

Dallas, (IINA) - The 8-year-old Sofia Yassini received thousands of support messages after her mother Melissa Yassini posted on social media saying that her daughter had packed up a bag in case the US military deports them because they are Muslims, CBS News reported.
Sofia’s fears haunted her after she heard US Republican Presidential Hopeful Donald Trump say that he will ban all Muslim immigration into the US.
Her story of terror that she would be forced to leave America inspired a social media campaign with a hashtag, "#IWillProtectYou", that has generated posts from soldiers, veterans and others supporting her.
  

"A lot of them, they call her out by name", the mother said on Wednesday. "That's very important to her".
Melissa initially shared her daughter's response to Trump calling for a ban all Muslim immigration into the United States.
Sofia heard about Trump's proposal while the family was watching the evening news. She packed a bag with Barbie dolls, a tub of peanut butter and a toothbrush, and she checked the locks of her family's home because she thought soldiers were coming to take her away.
Sofia was featured in a December 14 Associated Press story about how Muslim parents across the US are grappling with frightened children amid rising anti-Islam sentiment, including several incidents and proposals targeting Muslims in Texas.
One reader, Kerri Peek, wrote about Sofia and called on soldiers to reassure her. Thousands did. Many posted messages of support with selfies of themselves in combat uniforms. The hashtag was trending in several cities this week.


"#Iwillprotectyou with my last breath Sofia!" wrote Brandon Sterne, a 22-year Navy veteran who served in Iraq.
Sterne told the AP on Wednesday that he had seen in Iraq the importance of supporting people of all faiths and races.
He said he was particularly heartened by all of the posts from "my brothers and sisters in arms."
"I would just tell her that hatred's not going to win, that it's OK", Sterne said. "There are good people in the world, and the good people will always protect her from the evil people".
Yassini said her daughter is less afraid, but still nervous. She blamed Trump's comments about Muslims for driving anti-Islamic sentiment.
AG/IINA

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