Linda Sarsour speaks onstage during the Women’s March on Washington. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
“They have a coordinated attack campaign against me and it’s vicious and ugly. It’s not the first time, but it’s definitely more intense,” writes Linda Sarsour, one of the Women’s March on Washington organizers, after a slew of posts on right-wing websites flung accusations of anti-Semitism, support for Sharia law, and ties to terrorism at her in recent days. “The opposition cannot fathom to see a Palestinian Muslim American woman that resonates with the masses.”
Sarsour was one of three veteran activists and women of color who stepped up to help lead the Women’s March, after it got off to a freewheeling start.
Now, the first suggested autocomplete on Google when searching Sarsour’s name is “sharia law.”
The Daily Caller seems to have kicked this latest round of attacks off by alleging that Sarsour has “family ties” to Hamas operatives. Pamela Geller, with whom she has sparred in the past, declared Sarsour a “vicious Jew-hater.” Others have dredged up tweets that favorably note Saudi Arabia’s 10 weeks of paid maternity leave—the U.S. has zero—to argue that she is trying to bring sharia law to the U.S. You can probably guess the kind of mail that Sarsour is getting.
But there’s also been an outpouring of support as I #IMarchWithLinda spreads across social media.
“Grateful from the deepest of my heart 4 the outpouring of support. Our Love Army has arrived & WE WILL protect one another,” Sarsour tweeted.
.@lsarsour We see you, sis. Black Lives Matter has your back — today and every day. #IMarchWithLinda
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) January 23, 2017
Why are trolls attacking #womensmarch organizer @lsarsour? Because she’s effective. The pictures are driving them nuts #IMarchWithLinda
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) January 24, 2017
Hey, my sister. These bigots are only making you MORE famous. Because this movement LOVES you. We got your back!! Keep shining, @lsarsour! https://t.co/zR4wjyHKew
— Van Jones (@VanJones68) January 23, 2017
Thank you @lsarsour for helping to organize the march and build a progressive movement. When we stand together, we win. #IMarchwithLinda
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 24, 2017
Not this time, trolls. I stand with the incredible and inspiring @lsarsour. In defiance. Indivisible. #IMarchWithLinda
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) January 23, 2017
.@lsarsour remember when you helped lead Marchers from NYC to DC for equal justice? At it again, huh? #WomensMarch #imarchwithlinda
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) January 24, 2017
We are proud to have @lsarsour as our co-chair. We will always have her back. #IMarchWithLinda pic.twitter.com/YyF4DEmxZ4
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) January 23, 2017
Rachel Sadon