Harassment, injury, and murder of people that did not socially, culturally, and ethnically assimilate in the United States have become a recent trend. Many ethnic and religious minorities have been targeted; and the lives of those people affected have been changed forever. As President Trump was campaigning, he had made racially prejudiced statements against people of different religions and ethnic backgrounds. Although President Trump may have not realized it, many people took his statements to heart and acted violently towards these condemned demographics.  These heinous actions are nationally disapproved, with people stating that these actions defy the Constitution and the moral principles associated with the country it represents. Harming people because of their identity is not right. Hate crimes are unacceptable because the individuals that preform these hate crimes traumatize individuals that comprise the minorities that have been targeted.

Hate crimes against minorities have escalated dramatically recently. According to an article written by CNN, it was reported that anti –Muslim hate crimes rose by sixty seven percent during and after the election. It was also reported by CNN that many hate crimes against other ethnic and religious minorities had increased as well. Although there are many hate crimes that are not reported, the reported statistics are an accurate representation of the baseline of hate that has been widespread after the election. The ethnic minorities that have reported personal hate crimes have also reported harsh threats that were made against them and the cultural centers they frequently visit.

The New York Times reported that several Jewish cemeteries had tombstones that were vandalized in Philadelphia. The local police had stated that over a hundred tombstones were completely overturned and toppled. Although Trump previously denounced anti-Semitic abuse, the vandalism deeply affected the Jewish community, where the results could have been prevented by not encouraging the negative attitude in the first place. There also were several threats were made against Jewish community centers and schools that were proving to be incredibly disruptive to students and staff. Attacks like these have left many people fearful and apprehensive for the future. Additionally, many mosques and Muslim community centers have also reported threats and vandalism. According to the Washington Post, a mosque in Texas was set on fire hours after President Trump signed an executive order which banned the entry of people originating from seven Muslim majority countries. This attack left the facility ruined and resulted in a tremendous loss for the community’s security and peace of mind.

There were many instances where other harassed groups were targeted after the election for ignorant reasons. One incident reported by the BBC stated that a man had opened fire on two Indian men whom he believed were of Middle Eastern ethnicity. This resulted in the injury of one man and the death of the other. According to the New York Times, “On Tuesday, the White House issued a statement condemning the shooting as “an act of racially motivated hatred.”

While the White House and the president denounce these assaults, they must also realize that the campaign leading up to the presidency was built on abuses of certain demographics, thus encouraging the negative actions transpiring today. The only lack of discrimination now is the indiscriminate level of violence towards many women, men, and even children of targeted demographics. The culprits must realize that assaulting and threatening a person based on what they believe is not only wrong on many degrees, but also inflicts terror on the communities and populations affected. This country was founded on the base of freedom of religion and freedom of expression; the actions committed by these people clearly violate the rules and principles of this country. Is it fair that hard working people are harassed, threatened, or even murdered? Is it right for people to be discriminated against just because of the way they look or the clothes they wear? In order to rectify the pitiful situation America is in, we must to put our superficial differences aside to help and support our fellow Americans.