McQuade.

Following the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Americans are understandably concerned about public safety. But the backlash of threats, harassment and physical attacks that has been directed against Muslim Americans in recent weeks is not just misguided and contrary to our American values. It is harming our national security. 

ISIS and other terrorist organizations use the false narrative that America is at war with Islam as a recruiting tactic. Hate speech directed against Muslim Americans plays right into their hands. Those who seek to inspire terror attacks, including online recruiters, use anti-Muslim images and rhetoric to incite a response.  

America was founded on values of religious freedom. The stereotyping of all Muslims as terrorists is based on fear and ignorance.   It is easy to demonize groups that are unfamiliar or look different. No one blames all Catholics for the terrorist attack committed by Timothy McVeigh in Oklahoma City because we know many Catholics and we judge them each individually.  

We moved Japanese Americans to internment camps during World War II, but not German Americans.  What was the difference?  We were afraid of those who looked different. Let’s not make the same mistake again.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes cases of international and domestic terrorism. We also prosecute cases involving civil rights, threats and hate crimes. 

We spend a great deal of time engaging with members of all of our communities, including our Muslim and Arab American communities. The Muslim and Arab Americans I have met are parents, teachers, lawyers, police officers and U.S. military veterans.

Many Muslim families have been in this country for multiple generations. We have more in common than we have differences, and we all want the same things – freedom, safety and prosperity for our families. The idea that Muslim Americans are any less American than anyone else should insult all of us.  

And when it comes to national security, united we stand, divided we fall. 

-Barbara L. McQuade is the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan