Social media website Twitter has brought people around the world together to condemn the Sydney siege and make a stand against anti-Islamist feelings.
The touching online gesture, which sees people use #illridewithyou in their tweets, is a stand against any racially-motived, Islamophobic backlash to the siege and encourages people to travel with commuters in Muslim dress who may be concerned for their safety.
The movement was started by a Twitter user who goes by the name of @Sirtessa and since she tweeted and suggested the hashtag it has has now been used hundreds of thousands of times around the world.
An image has been released of a man thought to be the gunman, meanwhile five of the hostages have managed to escape.
If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ me for schedule
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
Maybe start a hashtag? What’s in #illridewithyou?
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
25 minutes later – 16,743 tweets with #illridewithyou – almost 400 per minute coming through!! Sen-bloody-sational
— Trevor Long (@trevorlong) December 15, 2014
I'm on the pakenham/cranbourne line tomorrow. If you need #illridewithyou and even share one of my earphones and half a toasted sandwich
— Mariella (@mariellam) December 15, 2014
Also, I'll ride with you because I know what it's like to be judged based on appearance alone. No one deserves that. #illridewithyou
— Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay) December 15, 2014
The #illridewithyou hashtag makes me so proud to be Australian. Thanks for the support everyone. 😉
— Mifrah Mahroof (@MifrahMahroof) December 15, 2014
#illridewithyou is such a beautiful thing to come from such a horrible event thoughts are with Sydney #bringthemhomesafe
— Stacey Banfield (@PaintedlipsNz) December 15, 2014
With this hashtag terrorism has really lost #illridewithyou
— Mohamed Ismail (@longlivesegypt) December 15, 2014
Meanwhile, those who don’t take public transport are also looking to do their bit as Australia comes together and stands strong against extremists.
https://twitter.com/witheyesshut/status/544437261710802945
Australians showing us how it's done. #Illridewithyou = solidarity and no to racism towards muslim community during Sydney seige
— Sarah Hay (@SarahxHay) December 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/Kiwipony/status/544437331684364289
I don't catch public transport during the week, but I walk up Chapel St every day and I'm more then happy to walk with you #illridewithyou
— Whiskey Houston (@RobCoco) December 15, 2014