#MuslimLivesMatter Trends as Twitter Criticizes Media Coverage of Chapel Hill Shooting

Three Muslim students were shot and killed on Tuesday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after turning himself into the police.

The three victims were Deah Barakat, 23; his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21; and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19. Barakat was a second-year student at University of North Carolina’s School of Dentistry and his wife had planned to start dental studies at UNC in the fall. Razan was a student at N.C. State University.

According to a widely circulated Facebook post, Hicks was an atheist supporting “anti-theism.”

FB post from Craig Stephen Hicks, charged w/ murder of 3 Muslim students. #ChapelHillShooting pic.twitter.com/QygrQOvamf pic.twitter.com/DRiXC60Kd5

— Yukio Strachan (@boldandworthy) February 11, 2015

Chapel Hill police said they think the crime was part of a parking dispute; the victims and Hicks were neighbors.

Photo of Craig Stephen Hicks. Credit: Associated Press

“Our investigators are exploring what could have motivated Mr. Hicks to commit such a senseless and tragic act,” said Chapel Hill police chief Chris Blue. “We understand the concerns about the possibility that this was hate-motivated and we will exhaust every lead to determine if that is the case. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these young people who lost their lives so needlessly.”

#MuslimLivesMatter, reminiscent of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, began trending on Twitter following the shooting. Twitter users expressed frustration over what they felt was a lack of media attention to the crime, and also used the hashtag to commemorate the victims, two of whom were newlyweds. All three victims were philanthropists, involved in an organization that helped feed the homeless. Barakat provided dental care to special-needs children in Palestine.

#ChapelHillShooting and #3Muslim also trended on Wednesday morning. The hashtags became a public forum to discuss the context in which national conversation treats both alleged murderers and victims based on race and religion.

We cannot live in our country and not feel safe. This is the experience of many communities. #BlackLivesMatter #MuslimLivesMatter

— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) February 11, 2015

Remember them like this. Deah and Yusor had names, dreams and families. #MuslimLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/G6YF06gXyO

— MohaNNad ??? ???? (@TheMoeDee) February 11, 2015

Here are the important stories that top news sites are covering right now instead of the #ChapelHillShooting: pic.twitter.com/n62dSfPUaH

— JRehling (@JRehling) February 11, 2015

Mainstream media is not reporting it. Let’s ask about this. Let’s talk about it. Don’t let them sweep it under the rug. #MuslimLivesMatter

— Ijeoma Oluo (@IjeomaOluo) February 11, 2015

On @CNN even robot pets are more important than minority lives. #ChapelHillShooting #MuslimLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/GIeUG4QDEk

— Damiyr Andre (@KingDamiyr) February 11, 2015

3 Muslim college students killed in cold blood. No media attention or outrage #MuslimLivesMatter #ChapelHillShooting pic.twitter.com/FuCN3XAkA3

— Diana (@lunarnomad) February 11, 2015

White terrorists are never called “white.” But other terrorists are given ethnic affiliations. #ChapelHill #MuslimLivesMatter

— ???? ???? (@DunyaDweller) February 11, 2015

still no major coverage of this. it feels great to live in a place that hates your guts. #chapelhillshooting #muslimlivesmatter

— amin el gamal (@aminelgamal) February 11, 2015

Outrageous lack of coverage for 3 beautiful, peaceful and Muslim young people killed execution style in Chapel Hill. #MuslimLivesMatter

— Burcu Bozkurt (@burcubbozkurt) February 11, 2015

#MuslimLivesMatter but not for @CNN @NBCNews @CBSNews @ABC @FoxNews #ChapelHillShooting @al_tagreer pic.twitter.com/TC5QDt50nq

— Carlos Latuff (@LatuffCartoons) February 11, 2015

Muslims only newsworthy when “behind a gun. Not in front it.” Lack of coverage on Chapel HIll murders confirms this pic.twitter.com/vNQ3KWD6zF

— Khaled Bey (@KhaledBeydoun) February 11, 2015

We cannot claim to live in a free country when a Muslim must fear for their life within our borders. It is inexcusable. #MuslimLivesMatter

— Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) February 11, 2015

I wonder when all world leaders will come and hold hands and march on the streets of Chapel Hill to condemn Islamphobia. #MuslimLivesMatter

— Dr. Yasir Qadhi (@YasirQadhi) February 11, 2015

we have lost a great human being #ChapelHillShooting R.I.P pic.twitter.com/qQcJEQHKZf

— Ahmed Fit (@Professor_3) February 11, 2015

The US media is referring to the #ChapelHillShooting just as a hate crime, but if the killer had been Muslim it would be a terrorist attack.

— Haraam Police ® (@saadabdulhai) February 11, 2015

No breaking news here !? @CNN @BBCWorld @FOXTV @washingtonpost @NewYorkTimes11 #ChapelHillshooting pic.twitter.com/Gm1mFafaIW

— Rasha (@rbarghash) February 11, 2015