The Yale Muslim Students Association hosted a “Hoodies and Hijabs” day Thursday afternoon in protest of the murders of Trayvon Martin, an African-American teenager who was shot on Feb. 26, and Shaima Alawadi, an Iraqi Muslim who was found murdered in her home last month.
Organizers urged students to wear either a hoodie or hijab — a Muslim headscarf — or both to protest discrimination based on an individual’s clothing. According to the organizers’ announcement about the campaign, Martin’s hoodie and Alawadi’s hijab had factored into their murders.
“Being discriminated against for wearing certain types of clothing, or coming from certain religious or racial backgrounds is unacceptable,” the announcement read. “We want to help spread the word on campus to both honor Trayvon and Shaima’s lives, and to send a loud and clear message.”
Participants were also asked to assemble on Cross Campus to take a group photo. In addition, supporters were encouraged to post their individual pictures on the event’s Facebook page.