In the midst of US President Trump’s divisive rhetoric and anti-Muslim legislation, two young Americans have defied a religious divide to star in 2017’s most heartwarming photograph so far.
The viral image shows a Jewish boy appearing to chat to a Muslim girl during demonstrations against the so-called “Muslim ban” at Chicago O’Hare Airport. It was tweeted by the Chicago Tribune on Monday.
Two children sit on their fathers shoulders at O'Hare Airport, protesting the #immigrationban. Story and photos: https://t.co/VsgZ9Zdi8e pic.twitter.com/HBIkYJ7r5G
— Chicago Trib Photo (@ChiTribPhoto) January 31, 2017
Their respective faith affiliations marked out by her hijab and his kippah, the kids sit on the shoulders of their beaming fathers, who are clearly delighted to be at the heart of the photogenic moment. She clutches a placard proclaiming “love, love” and he a banner declaring “hate has no home here”. In fact, the picture, taken by Chicago Tribune photographer Nuccio DiNuzzo, almost feels too perfect not to be a composition.
Yet, the families have said that the meeting was a coincidence, and that they had not met before. All that has changed now, however, as the families of the young demonstrators, nine-year-old Adin Bendat-Appell and seven-year-old Meryem Yildirim, plan to meet for dinner this Friday.
"I know the tension between the Jews and the Muslims. People think we hate each other. But we're not fighting. When we come next to each other we can have normal conversations," Meryem’s father told the Chicago Tribune. "We can promote the peace together."
The photo has received much positive feedback on Twitter, where it has been shared thousands of times over the last three days:
@ChiTribPhoto @BKennedyStar My dad taught me that a great photo tells a story. This one is, and does. No caption required. Awesome.
— Kristine (@KJay1122) January 31, 2017
@ChiTribPhoto
— Christina (@55krissi55) January 31, 2017
This is what I love to see,people of different religions/nationalities standing together against injustice#Jews#Muslim
@ChiTribPhoto Who took that photo? It is stunning.
— Maggie Hendricks (@maggiehendricks) January 31, 2017
Hundreds of thousands protested in airports and cities across America over the weekend after President Trump signed an executive order on Friday banning visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations for three months. The move also blocks all refugees from entering the country for 120 days.
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