Justin Normand outside the Islamic Center of Irving. (Courtesy of Justin Normand)

By Lindsey Bever
The Washington Post
November 30, 2016

As some Muslims — and the mosques they worship in — have been subjected to racism, bigotry and hate, a man in Texas has been spreading a positive and powerful message.

Over the past several days, a photo has swept across social media, showing 53-year-old Justin Normand, with a white beard and wearing a cowboy hat, holding a sign outside the Islamic Center of Irving near Dallas.

“You Belong. Stay Strong,” it reads. “Be Blessed. We Are One America.”

Normand, of Dallas, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that he never intended to draw nationwide attention when he first went to the mosque Friday, then for a short time Saturday and Sunday. He said he just wanted to express support for his Muslim neighbors.

But his message struck a nerve when it was posted on Reddit and Twitter, reaching thousands who said it gave them hope.

“It is the message — not me — that is transcendent,” Normand said in a phone interview. “I just spoke what is on a lot of people’s minds.”

What's it like to grow up within a group of people who exult in demonizing ... everyone else? Megan Phelps-Roper shares details of life inside America's most controversial church and describes how conversations on Twitter were key to her decision to leave it. In this extraordinary talk, she shares her personal experience of extreme polarization, along with some sharp ways we can learn to successfully engage across ideological lines.

Megan Phelps-Roper

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TEDNYC

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A former member of Westboro Baptist Church, Megan Phelps-Roper is now a writer and educator on topics related to extremism, bullying and empathy in dialogue.