This Hashtag About the Sydney Hostage Situation Is Incredibly Powerful

Updated on Dec 16, 2014 at 9:24 PM

As the awful hostage situation took place in Sydney on Monday, Australians on Twitter started using a hashtag to stand in solidarity with Muslims in the country. #IllRideWithYou is meant to counter any backlash Muslims might face after the suspect was identified as an Islamic man.

It all began when one woman noticed another on the train silently removing her hijab.

This, this is what good people do. #sydneyseige #MartinPlace pic.twitter.com/zxbHLWzxEp

— Michael James (@MichaelJames_TV) December 15, 2014

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

Soon after, the hashtag took over Twitter.

It's stuff like #illridewithyou that makes me feel like maybe I shouldn't give up on humanity just yet.

— Emily L. Hauser (@emilylhauser) December 15, 2014

Thanks for protecting my sisters #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/Qy9l0lN1qB

— Angger Prawitasari (@anggerwitasari) December 15, 2014

I was going to drive to work tomorrow but seeing the outpouring of support changed my mind. #illridewithyou Thank you. See you on the train!

— Ozge Sevindik (@OzgeSevindik) December 15, 2014

While it mostly refers to transportation, it's also being used to showcase other acts of kindness.

14 Dec: Australian Muslim youth handed out 2000 flowers and 3600 water bottles to ppl in sydney #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/22ikQczgnX

— Mina (@mina_ysf) December 15, 2014

It's stuff like #illridewithyou that makes me feel like maybe I shouldn't give up on humanity just yet.

— Emily L. Hauser (@emilylhauser) December 15, 2014

#IllRideWithYou anywhere, any time. Just let me know. This kind of movement makes me so, so god damn proud to be Australian.

— Tully Smyth (@tee_smyth) December 15, 2014

It spread so quickly, it became one of the top global hashtags on Twitter.