Hollywood actor Samuel L Jackson has claimed that Muslims are the new blacks of America because of how they are being persecuted.
The Django Unchained star, 67, said that the recent Islamist attacks in Paris and California meant that people saw it as a “legitimate reason” to fear Muslims.
He said that he had hoped the San Bernardino, California, attacks were carried out by some “crazy white dude” because they had damaged the perception of Muslims.
Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people and injured 21 others after they opened fire at the Inland Regional Center social services agency, where Farook worked.
Jackson spoke out as high profile incidents of Muslims being targeted in the US and the UK made headlines this month.
Attacks on American mosques are on the rise and leading Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for a ban on all Muslims coming to the US.
Last week a British father claimed he was stopped from boarding a flight from Heathrow to Disneyland in Los Angeles with his nine children because of his religion.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor said: “I can’t even tell you how much I really wanted (San Bernardino) to just be another, you know, crazy white dude, and not really some Muslims, because it’s like: ‘Oh, s***. It’s here’.
“But now? It’s like they have a legitimate reason now to look at your Muslim neighbour, friend, whatever in another way. And they become the new young black men.”
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