Atif Qarni: The LAST thing people want to hear from tone-deaf politicos is that “move on, unite and heal”

by Atif Qarni

Since election day, hate crimes against Muslims and Latinos have skyrocketed. The LAST thing people want to hear from tone-deaf politicos is that “move on, unite and heal.”

My wife, brother and I were Bernie people, but after the primary we voted for HRC. Unfortunately, many stayed home. Multiple times I said to people that I feared Trump getting elected, but many politicos put me down. Now I am speaking about concerns I have, and many politicos from both sides of the aisle are saying that bad things wont happen.

Let me put a few things in perspective for you. Since moving to Prince William County, I have been pulled over twice and questioned whether I had explosive devices in my car. The second time, my children were with me. My wife has been denied service at our local DMV because she wears a hijab. Both of us have the knowledge and the political means to fight back. Many do not.

Is my county vulnerable to hate crimes, and will there be a movement to put in bad policies to target Latinos and Muslims? Absolutely. It has been done before. In 2007 the bigoted Trumponian Corey Stewart led a movement to drive out Latinos from the county. Many folks looked the other way. And he keeps getting re-elected.

Please do not expect me to believe that bad things are not coming. I am organizing and preparing for what is to come. And I call on others to do the same. And I welcome all help from everyone.

UPDATE by Lowell: In response to PW County Chair Corey Stewart’s comments the other day (“If you’re an illegal alien in Prince William County, I’d get out…we’re going to find out where each and every one of these guys is, and we’re going hunt them down and we’re going to deport them”)  Atif responded, “these Gestapo Style tactics will not be tolerated in my county.”