Right-Wing Outlets Read Violence Into Sarsour’s Anti-Trump ‘Jihad’

Linda Sarsour, a Muslim activist and the co-chair of the Women’s March that took place in January, called for a “jihad,” or struggle, against President Donald Trump. Sarsour made the remarks over the weekend at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention in Chicago, but the comments began stirring controversy among right-wing outlets Thursday. “I hope that we when we stand up to those who oppress our communities that Allah accepts from us that as a form of jihad. That we are struggling against tyrants and rulers not only abroad in the Middle East or in the other side of the world, but here in these United States of America, where you have fascists and white supremacists and Islamophobes reigning in the White House,” Sarsour said, adding that Muslims should not “assimilate” or “please any other people and authority.” She later clarified what she meant by “jihad,” relaying to the crowd that Islam’s own prophet once said: “A word of truth in front of a tyrant ruler or leader, that is the best form of jihad.”