With hostages still in danger and central Sydney in lockdown, residents have turned to social media to spread a message of tolerance.
Locals have became concerned about the potential for rising intolerance or aggression towards people wearing religious dress.
One woman started what soon blossomed into a social media campaign to stand in solidarity with the city’s Muslims.
Tessa Kum, a TV content editor and writer living in Sydney, told Guardian Australia she acted after seeing a tweet from Michael James:
This, this is what good people do. #sydneyseige #MartinPlace pic.twitter.com/zxbHLWzxEp
— Michael James (@MichaelJames_TV) December 15, 2014
She then posted offering her company to anyone in religious attire on her route.
If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ me for schedule.
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
Maybe start a hashtag? What’s in #illridewithyou?
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
Fellow Twitter users swiftly joined in, offering their support.
#illridewithyou radiates the beauty of Australian mateship. We are many, but together we are one. #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/cmJonDi7Lc
— Lisa Donaldson APD (@Lise_Simpson) December 15, 2014
Others picked a broader context to reinforce the statement.
And, much like the #putoutyourbats tribute to Phillip Hughes, the idea has caught on.
