Media misrepresentation is more than hurt feelings and stigma. When faith is distorted in the media, whether it’s a Hulu series or a social media post, the effect is broken communities and violence. Not to mention the consequences that follow misinformation, including hate speech and justification for society to continue to “alter” people based on identity.

For example, misrepresentation of belief in the media led to far-right protests in the UK in August this year. Three young girls died stabbed to a dance class in Southport England and in a few hours reports online falsely claimed the killer was a Muslim immigrant. The next day, the protesters tried burn down at the Islamic Society Mosque in Southport, but were met by the local police force.

Protests erupted across the country, with protesters posting a list of places they would attack on social media, then gathering to attack mosques, businesses and a hotel where asylum seekers are awaiting final visa decisions. The pain and sadness of the families who lost their children in the Southport stabbings has only been deepened by community unrest and misinformation. Muslims in England questioned their safety, went indoors early or avoided traveling altogether fear of being attacked as protests continued for almost a week after the knife attack.

The newly released movie “Heretical,” which describes the kidnapping and murder of sister missionaries in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, could also have unintended consequences. In anticipation of potential misinformation, the communications department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued an official warning. statement sharing concern; “Some portrayals are fair and accurate, but others resort to stereotypes or gross misrepresentations that are in bad taste and have real-life consequences for people of faith.”

The statement continued: “we understand the fascination that some in the media have with the Church, but we regret that portrayals are often based on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of members of our Church or the sacred beliefs they hold . “

Members of the Latter-day Saint community have attracted media attention for their vulgar portrayal of Book of Mormon missionaries musical on Broadway and the West End.

CRITICS of the film noted the abundant discussion of faith and opportunities for missionaries to clarify their beliefs. But why were Latter-day Saints chosen as the described faith to begin with? Other proselytizing faiths are not crudely portrayed in musicals or crime victims in movies. Why does he think faith is constantly being judged in the public square? Strengthening interfaith relations between the religious and the secular must begin with efforts to report accurately in the media and that is not mutually exclusive of telling the truth in court.

What happened in the wake of the United Kingdom’s Southport riots is a lesson in how the interfaith community and concerned citizens might respond to the misrepresentation of faith in the media, regardless of the faith or belief depicted. HUNDREDS of people responded to online hate speech and vandalism by physically surrounding mosques, forming large human rings of protection. When the wall outside the Southport mosque was torn down, locals began rebuilding it, sweeping debris from the streets and rallying around community members who were being racially profiled for Arabic-sounding names.

Counter-protesters gathered in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Hastings, holding banners saying “Fight Racism”, “Refugees Welcome Here” and other positive messages of solidarity. “This is what community looks like,” one person reported. Similarly, we can combat hate online with similar messages.

Confronting disinformation also requires another step of conflict transformation and requires active counter-protests from both citizens and members of the media. In a phenomenal act of justice and courage following the Southport attack, Sky News FACILITIES a meeting between a mob leader and a local Muslim in Hull. Amanj Jamil, an asylum seeker from Iraq, was worshiping at his mosque when a violent mob attacked throwing stones and other objects at the building following the reported killing in Southport.

In addition to concerned citizens and media, politicians play a critical role in combating misrepresentation and misinformation. John Francis, who led demonstrations for the Hull Patriots protesters, said the crowd had mobilized behind the policies messenger; “What we see is we see people coming on these boats … (we’re) told they occupy the four-star hotels, they’re rewarded, they’re housed, they’re fed, they’re clothed.” He continued: “They are not verified. Nobody knows who I am.”

Political disinformation resulting from the United States presidential election campaign has also led to attack of immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, who were falsely described as having “eaten their dogs.” This kind of misinformation threatens the very bedrock of democracy and the freedom of religion or belief that is necessary for democracy to thrive.

Journalists rightly raise valid concerns about “undone culture,” but it is far better to use existing tools to present identity claims in an informed and nuanced way than to avoid talking to, or about, a majority of the world’s population who identify as religious. There is no excuse for not presenting literate and informed coverage of people of faith. In the age of DE&I and other societal efforts to accurately report identity claims—concerned citizens, media, and politicians must unite to confront faith misinformation. When any group is attacked for its identity, it threatens the freedom of all groups.

As famously shared by Martin Niemöller following the Holocaust, “First they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out – because I wasn’t a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak – because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came after the Jews, and I did not speak, because I was not a Jew.”

“Then they came after me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

We can speak out for any misrepresented group in the media, whether against a new series or crime misinformation. We must unite, regardless of the severity or scale of the consequences, large or small, recognizing that failure to confront misinformation and misrepresentation of faith or beliefs has real consequences for people around the world.