In 2015 there were at least 355 mass shootings in the United States; three of them were committed by persons claiming adherence to the Muslim faith. Yet, Islam is under fierce attack. Donald Trump and Chris Christie are calling for bans, travel restrictions and the surveillance of mosques; post-9/11 racism and Islamophobia are at fever pitch.

“It’s awful what Trump is saying. It’s like he wants us to wear stars on our clothing,” says Rodney Muhammed, a biomedical technologist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, MA. “I can’t believe this type of stereotyping exists today in our country.”

Muhammed emigrated to the U.S. from Trinidad in 1989. He went to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and now lives in Brockton. He and his wife have two daughters, ages two and six. Muhammed worries about what his little girls hear about their faith.

“When we go to the mosque the Imam tells us that we have to show them that terrorism is not part of Islam. I think about their future. I think about if I were going for a job today, I’d have to be concerned about my last name,” he says. “How will this affect my kids? What will it be like for them?”

According to CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, there are 69 U.S-based groups whose work either directly or indirectly spreads Islamophobia and hatred of Muslims. Between 2008 and 2011 these groups had total revenue of $119,662,179, much of it raised from wealthy individuals and organizations like The Center for American Progress. The money went to big salaries for administrators, SuperPACs supporting right wing politicians and the production and promotion of anti-Muslim literature, films and other media.

“Islamophobia has always been with us, but it really flourished after 9/11,” says Dr. Fiazuddin Shuayb, president of the Jawda Institute, an Islamic education and cultural organization based in New York City. “We saw a rise in attacks on mosques and the event gave birth to a whole industry spreading hate about Islam and people of the Muslim faith.”

“There are extremists in every religion,” says Maha Katib, a respiratory therapist at NYU Lutheran Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. “But now, any channel you turn on there’s someone talking about Muslim extremists. It’s really unfortunate. There are so many other important things going on in the world and this is what the media is focusing on? It just isn’t reality. There are Muslims all over the world. We are the people standing right beside you. I’m right here.”

Katib was born in New York City to Palestinian parents who emigrated to the U.S. from Jordan. She and her husband, who is Jordanian, have three teenaged children.

“With the media you only see half the story of Muslims. You only know what they want you to know. I’m used to it. They don’t talk about Palestinian refugees or people starving in Syria. Or what’s really happening to Muslim refugees in the Middle East. It’s inhuman,” says Katib. “Knowing this is going on and people are dying, I wonder how people like Trump can get up there and say these things without any feelings or emotion. Our emotions are what separate us from the animals.”

Solidarity with allies is important in pushing back against stereotyping and the proliferation of racism directed at Muslims, says Katib. 1199’s work on this front includes the activities of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus (AAPI). In August, 1199 Sec. Treas. Maria Castaneda condemned all hate speech after Jeb Bush’s “anchor baby” remark. More broadly, SEIU API members from locals around the country have demonstrated against this rise of intolerance and the targeting of Muslims.

“We come together. It’s wonderful. Islam means peace. It’s a way of life and teaches you to do good things,” says Bibi Habib, a program administrator in 1199’s National Benefit Fund and active Caucus member who is originally from Guyana.

Allies also need to speak up—loudly and often—on behalf of the Muslim community,” says Rodney Muhammed. “

I find it amazing how Donald Trump keeps getting a platform to spread hatred of Muslims, yet no one talks about how he’s very happy to do business the Saudis,” says Muhammed.

“We have so many more important things to talk about: healthcare, immigration—but they focus on us because we’re an easy target. I feel bad that we have to live as second class citizens. All we want is a normal life.”