In recent weeks, troubling incidents have unfolded in Morgan Hill, leaving most of us deeply concerned.
On March 7, multiple members of the Muslim community were subjected to hate-driven acts outside the Morgan Hill community center as they left a prayer service. While I was not present at the time, there were numerous eye witnesses to the assaults. There is no “alleged” about multiple victims experiencing verbal assaults and one physical hate assault.
As a member of this community, I feel compelled to speak out, not just about the incident itself, but about the way our city’s leadership has handled it, and about the public misrepresentation of my conversation with the mayor to negate his responsibility in responding to the hate assaults.
What has been most concerning is the mayor’s reluctance to unequivocally condemn the hate assaults that took place that night. During a conversation with Mayor Mark Turner, the mayor expressed hesitation, stating that he needed more facts before condemning the violence.
While I understand the importance of gathering facts, this response felt disheartening, especially when one considers that these assaults took place as families were leaving a worship service. If similar hate assaults occurred after a church prayer service and the victims were a young Christian woman and her elderly father, would there have been any such hesitation from our leaders?
The lack of a clear, immediate response of condemnation sends the wrong message to the community, that acts of hate against some members of our community are acceptable by most of our city leaders.
The mayor’s attempt to cover his failures in condemning the assaults or in reaching out to the Muslim community is disappointing on a personal level. The mayor publicly referenced my name as a “leader” of the Muslim community, to imply he had been in contact with the Muslim community which is simply untrue.
I am not a leader; I am a concerned member of this community, deeply invested in ensuring that all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. His use of my name in a public setting to position me as a spokesperson or leader of the community is not only inaccurate but seemed like a desperate attempt to use me as his scapegoat.
By positioning me as a leader, the mayor deflects attention from the actual issue—religiously motivated hateful assaults that took place in our town. This feels like an attempt to redirect the blame and avoid taking full responsibility for his own failure to respond with the urgency this situation deserved. I never sought nor do I claim to hold any position of leadership.
My involvement in this matter stems from a deep sense of responsibility to my community and to the values we share. The mayor had ample opportunity to respond to the actual Muslim leadership who had all been included in emails directly to him that went unanswered.
What troubles me further is the mayor’s handling of similar incidents. When the swastika was displayed in our town on March 21, the response was swift and decisive: it was rightly condemned, and the symbol was removed.
However, when it came to acts of violence against Muslim worshippers, there was no such clarity, and public clear condemnation is yet to come.
This inconsistency in leadership creates confusion and fear, suggesting that some forms of hate are acceptable.
The people of Morgan Hill deserve better. We deserve leadership that is clear, honest and united in condemning hate in all its forms and against any member of our community.
Our community is beautifully diverse, and every member of it deserves to feel safe and valued. We need our leaders to stand up and speak out against violence, not to deflect responsibility. This is a matter of public trust.
I urge the mayor, and all our leaders, to take a strong stand against hate and to publicly acknowledge the harm done by their lack of action. It is time for clear leadership, and for our community to stand united, committed to the values of inclusivity, respect and justice for all.
Zain Yahya
Morgan Hill
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Thank you Zain for shedding light on the hate assaults that occurred in Morgan Hill. Thanks also for placing responsibility where it rightly belongs- with Mayor Turner and the other 3 city council women who took oaths to represent all residents of Morgan Hill and have failed to do so. It’s absolutely disgusting that Mayor Turner has failed to still condemn these hate assaults against our Muslim neighbors. I watched the April 2 city council meeting recording, and listened to the mayor saying he’s “waiting for the incidents to be classified as a ‘hate crime’ before making a comment.” Turners statement is disgraceful to our Morgan Hill community that prides ourselves on being a ‘caring community’. The fact that the MHPD already sent their investigative findings to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office to review these assaults as “hate crimes,” makes it very clear that there were multiple victims who were verbally assaulted & one who was physically assaulted on March 7. Yet today, 38 days AFTER the multiple hate assaults, Mayor Turner has still failed to publicly condemn the islamophobic hate assaults against our Muslim neighbors. Mayor Turner has publicly lied once again- he is recorded stating during the April 2 meeting that as mayor he would condemn the islamophobic hate assaults publicly and still has NOT done so publicly any where.
Morgan Hill deserves and needs better leadership that truly represents and values ALL their residents unconditionally. Time is up Mayor Turner, you have failed to truly represent all Morgan Hill residents. I demand you step down to avoid an expensive recall, because Morgan Hill deserves stronger & better leadership!
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Why did it take so long for Turner to comment on this? An older man was knocked down after leaving prayers; the police were there. What is so confusing about this?
Why is it hard to call someone out just because they look like you? I would have to assume Turner doesn’t give a crap and is only now speaking up because he was called on the carpet.