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American Muslims: Fears v. Facts

by Bridge Initiative Team
Published on 28 Aug 2015

Infographic Heading Title text: Fears v. Facts: American Muslims Subtitle text: Residents of Sterling Heights, Mich. are not happy about their town’s new mosque. At community meetings in August 2015, they voiced their concerns about Muslims. Lucky for these Michiganders, the the facts show that their worries won’t come to pass--American Muslims are peaceful, well-off, and integrated into society. Row 1 Row 1 is split into two columns Column 1 Heading: Fear Column 1 text: Comments made at community meetings on the new mosque: “They are scaring the public.” “It’s a matter not only of personal security but national security.” “They are killers.” Column 2 Heading: Statistics Column 2 text: Compared to other religious groups, U.S. Muslims are the staunchest opponents of military attacks on civilians. Attacks by anti-government or racist extremists are at least 2x as high as “jihadist” attacks. Row 2 Row 2 is split into two columns Column 1 Heading: Unease Column 1 text: “All Muslims who live in America are on food stamps.” Column 2 Heading: Data Column 2 text: Muslim family income is only slightly lower than that of the general population. 40% of Muslims have college degrees, compared to 29% of the general population. Row 3 Row 3 is split into two columns Column 1 Heading: Concern Column 1 text: “These people coming in are not beneficial to this area at all.” Column 2 Heading: Reality Column 2 Text: Muslims contribute to society in countless ways. 10% of all American physicians are Muslim. Muslims serve in the armed forces, run health clinics, feed the poor, and campaign for social justice. Infographic Footer: Sources: “Statistics”: A 2011 Gallup poll of American Muslims; a 2015 report by the New America Foundation. “DATA”: 2011 and 2009 Gallup polls of American Muslims. “REALITY”: 2006 figures from the American Medical Association; 2009 Defense Department Statistics; reports from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.

The quotes above come from a recent Sterling Heights City Council Meeting. You can view that meeting, and hear the remarks, in this video. This story was also covered in the Arab American News. Statistics regarding support for targeting civilians comes from Gallup. Data on anti-government extremists can be found, in this New York Times report from June of 2015. Data on Muslim family income can be found in this 2011 Pew study; data on Muslims with college degrees comes from a 2009 Gallup study. Percentages of Muslim physicians in the United States may be accessed here, while information of the contribution of American Muslims may be found here.

 

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Infographic Heading

Title text: Fears v. Facts: American Muslims

Subtitle text: Residents of Sterling Heights, Mich. are not happy about their town’s new mosque. At community meetings in August 2015, they voiced their concerns about Muslims. Lucky for these Michiganders, the the facts show that their worries won’t come to pass–American Muslims are peaceful, well-off, and integrated into society.

 

Row 1

Row 1 is split into two columns

Column 1 Heading: Fear

Column 1 text: Comments made at community meetings on the new mosque:

  • “They are scaring the public.”
  • “It’s a matter not only of personal security but national security.”
  • “They are killers.”

Column 2 Heading: Statistics

Column 2 text: Compared to other religious groups, U.S. Muslims are the staunchest opponents of military attacks on civilians. Attacks by anti-government or racist extremists are at least 2x as high as “jihadist” attacks.

 

Row 2

Row 2 is split into two columns

Column 1 Heading: Unease

Column 1 text: “All Muslims who live in America are on food stamps.”

Column 2 Heading: Data

Column 2 text: Muslim family income is only slightly lower than that of the general population. 40% of Muslims have college degrees, compared to 29% of the general population.

 

Row 3

Row 3 is split into two columns

Column 1 Heading: Concern

Column 1 text: “These people coming in are not beneficial to this area at all.”

Column 2 Heading: Reality

Column 2 Text: Muslims contribute to society in countless ways. 10% of all American physicians are Muslim. Muslims serve in the armed forces, run health clinics, feed the poor, and campaign for social justice.

 

Infographic Footer:

Sources: “Statistics”: A 2011 Gallup poll of American Muslims; a 2015 report by the New America Foundation. “DATA”: 2011 and 2009 Gallup polls of American Muslims. “REALITY”: 2006 figures from the American Medical Association; 2009 Defense Department Statistics; reports from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.

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