Toronto says #IllRideWithYou to Muslims after racist attacks

Like manyToronto residents, KellyBoazsaid she "naively assumed"the backlash against Muslims, seen elsewhere in the wake of Friday's deadly attack in Paris, wouldn't occur in Toronto.

But to date, at least four suspected anti-Muslim incidents, including anassault, have been reported:

• Two Muslim women wereaccosted andverbally harassedWednesday nighton a train atSherbournestation.
• Metrolinxdiscoveredanti-MuslimgraffitiWednesday nighton one of its trains.
• A Muslim mother wasassaulted and robbedMonday afternoonby two men at a North York school.
• A Muslim U of T student says he wasspat on and insultedon the weekend.

"WhenI heard about the attack at the school in Toronto, my heart sank," saidBoaz.

Boaz isamong thedozens of Toronto transit riders who are offeringto accompany Muslim riders byusing thehashtag#IllRideWithYou.

The hashtag originated in the aftermath of the 16-hour standoffin Sydney in December 2014, in which agunman burst into a caf, taking17 people hostage. Two people were killed along with the gunman.

WhenI heard about the attack at the school in Toronto, my heart sank. Kelly Boaz

Hostility andanimosity toward Muslims grew in Australia, but were countered by offers to accompanythose feeling unsafe or uncomfortable traveling alone.

"When I heard about the subway attacks, I remembered the #IllRideWithYoucampaign," Boaz said.

Boaz said she wanted to, like dozens tweeting the sentiment, rekindle that movement in Toronto, though she was saddened by the need.

"As a woman, I often feel vulnerable when walking or riding public transit," Boaz said. Butshe said she recognizes "how muchprivilege I have, just by the accident of birth that gaveme a white face."

"I can hopefully extend that privilege," she said.

Another hashtag,#StandWithMuslimsTO, trended Thursday evening, with dozens of tweets condemning the recent attacks and urging Toronto residents to not stand by idly.

"To me, Canada is a place where there's a higher standard of behaviour;somewhere we stick together and protect each other," Boaz said.

"I want us to live upto that."