An intensified level of anti-Muslim bigotry has surfaced in a variety of public forums in the United States with greater force today than immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

At that time, there was concern about an explosion of hatred against American Muslims, particularly after a number of incidents, including several violent ones, followed the tragedy. As things turned out, those dire predictions did not materialize in the direct aftermath of the attacks.

But now, ten years later, a surge of anti-Muslim sentiment has fed on growing community concerns about Islamic extremism. Much of it has focused on various plans to relocate or expand mosques around the country. Some of the more troubling public campaigns have been initiated by groups that promote a conspiratorial anti-Muslim agenda under the pretext of fighting radical Islam.