Sydney siege: Australians rally behind Muslims with #IllRideWithYou campaign

A Twitter campaign against Islamophobia in the wake of the hostage crisis in Sydney has gone viral, with thousands of netizens expressing their solidarity with Australian Muslims.
A woman started the hashtag #IllRideWithYou pledging to accompany Muslims wearing religious attire on public transportation to defuse potential episodes of intolerance.
If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ me for schedule.
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
Maybe start a hashtag? What’s in #illridewithyou?
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
The hashtag was taken up by thousands of netizens and was mentioned more than 40,000 times in a few hours, trending globally in the morning.
The #illridewithyou hashtag makes me so proud to be Australian. Thanks for the support everyone. ;)
— Mifrah Mahroof (@MifrahMahroof) December 15, 2014
If Australians not of Muslim faith attack Australians that are, the terrorists win. Be it on trains,Internet or the street, #illridewithyou
— Craig Laundy (@LaundyCraigMP) December 15, 2014
Australians offer to go with Muslim Australians in public places if they fear racist backlash #illridewithyou So much better than bigotry
— Julian Burnside (@JulianBurnside) December 15, 2014
Loving the #illridewithyou hashtag. Human spirit beats cowardly extremism every time.
— Jamie Wyver (@J__me) December 15, 2014
This is awesome! #illridewithyou is trending WORLDWIDE!!! #SoProud pic.twitter.com/1jKexBkjku
— Geoff Pearson (@GCobber99) December 15, 2014
Meanwhile, a number of Australian Muslim organisations have expressed their "shock and horror" at the unfolding hostage situation in Sydney's Martin Place.
A gunman forced hostages inside a Lindt cafe to hold up a black Islamic flag in what is a suspected attack by a person "claiming political motivation", according to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
A statement from 50 Australian Muslim organisations said that the community's "thoughts go to the hostages and their loved ones" and that they "pray for their safety".
"The Australian Muslim community shares with fellow Sydneysiders their utter shock and horror at the unprecedented scenes emerging from the Lindt cafe in Martin Place this morning," the statement reads.
"We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being, or to instil fear and terror into their hearts."
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