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Speaking at a press conference one day after the shootings by two teenagers who killed three Muslim men at the Islamic Center of San Diego, Hawaa Abdullah, the daughter of slain victim Amin Abdullah, passionately conveyed how seriously her father took his job of protecting the community. With her voice trembling, Hawaa’s grief was palpable, especially as she recalled her father’s deep sense of responsibility as a security guard at the Islamic Center. She described how her father was so committed to his work that he would often skip meals during his shift because he feared that something might go wrong in the short time he was away. Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, the other two victims of the shooting at the San Diego Islamic Center, were also remembered for their courage and standing between the shooters and their beloved community that was under attack.

The attackers left behind a manifesto that law enforcement described as including “generalized hate rhetoric.” This however, overlooked the fact that the manifesto’s specific language identified and differentiated between the targets of its vitriol. Moreover, the shooters’ manifesto expressed specific admiration for the Christchurch, New Zealand shooter — so much so, that the document itself was called “The New Crusade: Sons of Tarrant.”

In the wake of these shootings, Muslims have once again been reminded of the omnipresence of violence — not only from individuals within society, but also from a state that has relentlessly targeted Muslims and normalized the disposability of Muslim life. The demonizing rhetoric deployed by Trump, members of his administration, and members of Congress has helped create the conditions in which hatred toward Islam and Muslims can flourish. But these narratives — including those that are long-standing — have been deployed since the onset of the “War on Terror” and have done more than fuel interpersonal hostility; they have provided the ideological foundation and justification for the policies and laws that have devastated and destroyed Muslim lives.

The State Will Not Save Us From Hate

On the day of the attacks while Trump was at an event on health care affordability in D.C., the president was asked about his reaction to the attack and murders at the Islamic Center of San Diego. He responded saying, “They’re giving a briefing on it … and it’s a terrible situation. I’ve been given some early updates, but we’re going to be going back and looking at it very strongly.” Vice President JD Vance also commented on the attacks, saying, “I don’t know a single person who would say anything other than what I’m about to say, which is that that type of violence in the United States of America is reprehensible, and I encourage every single American to pray for everybody who was involved and affected by it.”

In the aftermath of societal violence — particularly violence rooted in identity-based targeting — communities often appeal to the state for recognition of the harm that has been inflicted upon them. These appeals seek to establish a public record of accountability and to hear........

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