Sarah A. Harvard

Bio

Sarah was a staff writer covering religion, race and politics. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Atlantic, Slate, The Huffington Post, Teen Vogue and Vice.

Nursing textbook claims direct eye contact with African-Americans is “aggressive behavior”
By Sarah A. Harvard
A nursing textbook is causing a stir online for the startlingly racist and xenophobic claims it makes about many racial and ethnic groups. The book, Journey Across the Life Span: Human Development and Health Promotion, was written by Elaine Polan…
A Minnesota mosque was bombed — and America’s failed anti-extremism policies are to blame
By Sarah A. Harvard
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating a bombing that took place on Saturday at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in suburban Minneapolis while worshippers were performing their morning prayers. The FBI…
How two worshippers at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin turned tragedy into personal triumphs
By Sarah A. Harvard
Five years ago, white supremacist Wade Michael Page stormed into the golden Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, just 12 miles south of Milwaukee. He opened fire and fatally shot six people — one woman and five turban-wearing men. It was Aug. 5,…
70% of Muslims still believe in the American dream, according to new Pew study
By Sarah A. Harvard
The Pew Research Center released a new survey on Wednesday detailing how Muslim Americans perceive discrimination against their community and their place in American society. For the most part, the survey shows that Muslims in the United States are…
How the media covers “honor killings” reveals a double standard against women of different religions
By Sarah A. Harvard
On Sunday, Israeli authorities arrested an Arab Christian father in Ramle — a central city in Israel — for allegedly killing his 17-year-old daughter after learning she was falling in love with a Muslim boy. Sami Karra allegedly killed his…
Muslim bus driver in Atlanta is suing elementary school principal for discrimination
By Sarah A. Harvard
An elementary school principal in Atlanta is facing a lawsuit for allegedly discriminating against a Muslim school bus driver. Twanesia Crawford, a bus driver for Atlanta Public Schools, said Hope-Hill Elementary School principal Maureen Wheeler…
GOP Sen. Jeff Flake defends hijab-wearing challenger Deedra Abboud from anti-Muslim online abuse
By Sarah A. Harvard
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) tweeted words of encouragement to his Democratic challenger after she was lambasted with an onslaught of anti-Muslim harassment and abuse online. “Hang in there Deedra [Abboud],” Flake tweeted. “Sorry you have to put up…
Anti-Muslim hate crimes spiked 91% within first half of 2017, new report says
By Sarah A. Harvard
On Monday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a new report detailing a 91% increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes within the first six months of 2017 compared to the same time period in 2016. According to the civil rights group, 2016…
These women converted to Islam and are not here for anti-Muslim bigotry
By Sarah A. Harvard
When Stacy Navarrete, 23, converted to Islam in June 2011, her friends and family thought she converted to appease her Muslim husband. “[My friends and family thought] I was brainwashed or something, but it’s not like that,” Navarrete, a woman of…
Belgium’s burqa ban is in the spirit of integration — here’s why it could backfire
By Sarah A. Harvard
On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights upheld Belgium’s burqa and niqab bans in public spaces. The court ruled that Belgium had the right to ban full-face veils in the name of integration, or “living together,” and the “protection of the…
Ilhan Omar’s ‘Daily Show’ appearance is a sign of hope for America’s refugee and Muslim communities
By Sarah A. Harvard
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar wants to invite President Donald Trump over for tea. Omar, Minnesota’s first Somali-American lawmaker, appeared on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah on Thursday to talk about her journey as a Somali Muslim refugee who made…
Man who fatally stabbed Richard Collins indicted on murder charge by grand jury
By Sarah A. Harvard
On Thursday, a grand jury indicted a white University of Maryland student for murder in the stabbing of black Bowie State University student Richard Collins III. The indictment of Sean Urbanski, 22, occurred about two months after he stabbed…
More than 20,000 Muslims gathered in Canada for three days to denounce terrorism
By Sarah A. Harvard
More than 20,000 Muslims gathered at a three-day convention to condemn terrorism and religious extremism. The 41st Jalsa Salana was held from Friday to Sunday at the International Centre in Mississauga, Canada, where Muslims from all over the…
Michigan official asks people to “kill every last Muslim” on Facebook — and won’t apologize for it
By Sarah A. Harvard
A Michigan politician is facing backlash for refusing to apologize for a Facebook post that urged people to “kill every last Muslim,” the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. Jeff Sieting, village president of Kalkaska, a small Michigan town about…
Man leaves Jesus painting outside mosque in possible hate crime — unaware Muslims love Jesus, too
By Sarah A. Harvard
The Nassau County Police Department is investigating a possible hate crime where an unidentified person left a large painting of Jesus hanging on a cross outside the Hillside Islamic Center in Long Island, New York. An employee at the Hillside…
What is “jihad”? Conservatives often link it to violence, but here’s what it actually means.
By Sarah A. Harvard
Muslim activist Linda Sarsour is a common target for conservative media and right-wing activists. The latest charge against Sarsour follows a speech the Women’s March organizer delivered to the Islamic Society of North America convention in Chicago…
Dozens of imams are marching against terrorism in Europe, but of course you didn’t hear about it
By Sarah A. Harvard
In Paris on Saturday, a coalition of imams started a bus tour to sites where Muslim extremists committed violence in Europe in an effort to condemn terrorism. The tour is called “The March of Muslims against Terrorism.” The bus tour, which will…
Someone spray painted anti-Semitic graffiti on this Phoenix Jewish family’s mailbox
By Sarah A. Harvard
Ari and Shoshana Simones were coming home from their Fourth of July holiday vacation when they found a hateful symbol left on their mailbox: the swastika. The Simones are a Jewish family living in Phoenix. The swastika and the word “JEW” was…
Nabra Hassanen's death wraps up an especially violent Ramadan for Muslim teenage girls
By Sarah A. Harvard
Nabra Hassanen didn't have the chance to spend Father's Day with the man who raised her. Hassanen's remains were found in a pond in Sterling, Virginia, the Washington Post reported. She was 17.  Hassanen and her teenage friends — all wearing abayas,…
'Daily Mail', other media outlets criticized for victim-blaming Muslims for Finsbury Park attack
By Sarah A. Harvard
On Sunday night, a white van rammed into pedestrians leaving London's Finsbury Park Mosque after "taraweeh," or nightly Ramadan prayers. Media outlets began reporting on the incident as more details emerged. In some publications, like the Daily…