Letters to mosques: Trump's "going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to Jews"

After our Donald Trump’s win in the presidential election, harassment against minority groups has spiked. Even before our Islamophobic president-elect’s win though, hate crimes against Muslims were up to the highest levels since 9/11.

You can add a horrifying letter sent to three mosques in California to the ever growing list of disgusting attacks on Muslims. The letter is addressed “the the children of satan,” and says “[Trump’s] going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to Jews.”

The sentiment is particularly horrifying in light of a Trump’s various hateful comments toward Muslims and one of his surrogate’s citing internment camps as a precedent for a national Muslim registry—something the president-elect hasn’t ruled out.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (a civil liberties group that seeks to promote understanding of Islam and Muslims) is asking for these incidents to be investigated as religious intimidation. According to ABC News, at least one of them is being investigated as a “hate-motivated incident.” The group is also asking for increased police protection at local mosques.

Even though the mosques are being targeted with hate, leaders are responding in a way that seeks to build bridges. Faisal Yazadi, who chairs the board of the Islamic center in San Jose a letter was sent to, asked the person who sent the letter to engage in dialogue.

“Our doors are never locked,” Yazadi told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I hope that person knows that we’re more than happy to have a dialogue. Hopefully, we learn a thing or two from him or her, and he or she learns something from us.”

Hussam Ayloush, who heads the LA chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, says Trump’s rhetoric gave rise to this kind of hate.

“I’m not saying [Trump] created racist people,” Ayloush told the Los Angeles Times. “He normalized it. While he might say he’s not responsible, and I respect that, I remind President-elect Trump that he has a responsibility to act as a president for all Americans.”