Remembering 9/11: A Call for Engaging in Cross-Community Solidarity
By Shrawani Thapa
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11th. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the strength and courage demonstrated by community members and first responders who faced danger and bravely protected others. We honor their extraordinary bravery and the lives lost.
9/11 is also a reminder of the repercussions of prejudice and fear, including the harassment and discrimination faced by South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, and Arab Americans in the aftermath of the attacks. In light of current immigration enforcement, surveillance, and crackdowns on dissent, these communities continue to encounter policies and narratives that echo aspects of the post-9/11 backlash. As perpetuating islamophobia, discrimination, and hate violence continues to affect these communities, this 25th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on how the aftermath of 9/11 has continued to shape communities and why cross-community solidarity remains instrumental.
At the OCA National Convention held in Detroit, Michigan, this past July, the plenary session “25 Years Later: Post 9/11 America” explored the impacts of the backlash that began in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the War on Terror, particularly through the experiences of South Asian, Arab, Muslim, and Sikh communities. The speakers, Deepa Iyer, Rima Meroueh, Dr. Seydi Sarr, and Harman Singh, who have been trailblazers in social justice advocacy and community building, discussed how the post-9/11 environment affected the communities they serve and how their organizations adapted to provide greater support. They also reflected on how current policies and narratives that mirror aspects of the post-9/11 backlash are once again increasing the need for support and advocacy within these communities.
In this session, the speakers encouraged attendees to actively engage in cross-community solidarity, emphasizing that solidarity requires communities to recognize their differences as sources of strength and opportunities to build deeper connections. Supporting one another means moving beyond simply accepting diversity and means actively reaching across communities to ask, “How can I be there for you? How can I help?” Although communities may experience discrimination and injustice in different ways, the speakers shared how, as seen through their actions in community advocacy and organizing, collective action and mutual support can create greater strength and resilience. In doing so, the speakers highlighted how cross-community solidarity does not require communities to have identical experiences, but instead requires us to recognize those differences and use them as a reason to support one another.
What stood out to me the most from the session was this discussion of what it means to engage in cross-community solidarity and the speakers’ encouragement to actively engage in it. Coming from a South Asian background, reflecting on 9/11 also means reflecting on how fear and suspicion in the aftermath of the attacks reshaped the way people like me experienced belonging and safety. We were, and continue to be, judged through lenses of fear based often simply on our identity or perceived background. This has profoundly impacted how our communities experience belonging and safety. This message resonated with me because, as we continue to navigate policies and narratives that echo post-9/11 backlash, it made me reflect on how engaging in this practice can be a powerful way to prevent fear and prejudice from dividing us, foster belonging and safety, and be a source of our strength as a collective.
The plenary serves as a reminder that our communities are strongest when we support one another and choose to stand together rather than alone. It is important now more than ever that the practice of solidarity across communities be actively engaged, lest we repeat the mistakes of the last 25 years.
Take Action
The Sikh Coalition, in partnership with the South Asian Coalition, has identified five policy actions Congress can take now to address the lasting harms of the post-9/11 era, including hate crimes, immigration, and surveillance. Learn more and take action!
For additional resources, visit 25-yearslater.org, a learning hub established by the South Asian Coalition featuring policy resources, video testimonials, educational materials, and more on the legacy of the post-9/11 era.