Answering a question about whether Muslims should get more involved in the Black Lives Matter Movement which campaigns against systematic violence and racism against black people, Shaykh Hamza went onto defend the American criminal justice system. Speaking at the Reviving Islamic Spirit conference in Toronto. Shaykh Hamza’s comments brought about an immediate storm on social media with some accusing him of white privilege. He said: “The United States is, in term of its laws, one of the least racist societies in the world. We have some of the best anti-discriminatory laws on the planet… We have between 15-18,000 homicides a year, 50 per cent are black on black crime… There are twice as many whites that have been shot by police but nobody ever shows those videos. It’s the assumption that the police are racist and it’s not always the case…” “I think it’s very dangerous to just broadstroke any police that shoots a black as immediately being considered a racist, sometimes these are African American police officers. The police aren’t all racist.”
Tweets:
When you downplay the real grievances of your own brothers and sisters, you are just as complicit in their oppression #RIS2016
— Boonaa Mohammed (@boonaamohammed) December 26, 2016
We divide ourselves as much as others try & divide us. If wrong was said, he’s in the best company to be corrected #HamzaYusuf #RIS2016 #BLM
— Fahd Khan (@TheRealFahdKhan) December 26, 2016
To have ur every offhand remark scrutinized, magnified = tough. But it’s a sign of how much the ppl have invested in u. #HamzaYusuf #RIS2016
— Steven Zhou (@stevenzzhou) December 25, 2016
I’m tired of these non black Muslim leaders and “scholars” justifying other people’s racist words & Say forgive & forget. #hamzayusuf
— Aya (@ayakhalil) December 26, 2016
“We need to be able to freely talk about the problems within our community.” ~ #HamzaYusuf
— Aleena (@Fareezay) December 25, 2016
In last 24 hours Blk Muslims have (a) witnessed a white Muslim scholar make anti-Black statements on 2 diff occasions & get cheered #RIS2016
— HY. Mire (@HYMire) December 25, 2016
Respect but never idolize celebrities, religious figures, activists – they will always disappoint you because they are human. #RIS2016
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) December 25, 2016
Black people are always being told we need to “forgive and forget”, “focus on bigger issues”, “don’t get so emotional” #RIS2016
— Boonaa Mohammed (@boonaamohammed) December 26, 2016
Insisting racism is only a spiritual problem erases the historical specificity of race as rooted in power & political interests. #RIS2016
— Biryani For One (@biryaniforone) December 25, 2016
I’m straight salty that people who cite Malcolm & Ali on a regular spout anti-blackness so casually. #RIS2016
— Donna Auston (@TinyMuslimah) December 25, 2016
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