Forget Kendall Jenner being the face of a revolution. All hail Saffiyah Khan.
This British born Pakistani-Bosnian woman just stared down a cop like a boss ass bitch
When the English Defense League (EDL), a far right political group in England, held a protest in Birmingham against last month’s attack at Westminster bridge, British Pakistani-Bosnian Saffiyah decided to show up to protect vulnerable members of the public who might end up being harassed by the racist party who glorify white supremacy.
She was hanging around the protest and intervened when Saira Zafar, who was wearing a headscarf, was cornered by a bunch of EDL protesters.
That’s when this incredible moment was captured by Press Association photographer Joe Giddens…
Saffiyah’s photos at the demo have literally gone viral, with everyone loving how calm and collected she is throughout her confrontation with EDL protester Ian Crossland who’s clearly verbally abusing her.
Saffiyah was there because she knew Muslims and people of color would be abused. Everything was fine until Saira Zafar shouted “No to racism.” The police didn’t do anything and that’s when Saffiyah decided to intervene. Ian Crossland kept poking his finger in her face but she remained unaffected.
She was quickly escorted out of the protest, with her beautiful smirk still intact.
She has become the face of change from the courage she displayed. In an interview for BBC radio, she said ‘I would stand up to anyone who I thought was acting immoral.’
She said that the most important thing to do in a situation like that is to remain calm and not to do anything that can incriminate you.
She was later reunited with the woman she stood up for
Saira Zafar was at the protest to make sure that racism wasn’t being preached, given the location was so central. In an interview with U.K. news publication The Mirror, Saira said “my initial intention was to stand at the back with a placard so that anybody walking past could see that they were being countered. What I said was: ‘No to racism’ and ‘No to Islamophobia’. As soon as I said that their speech stopped and I personally feel like that was done deliberately as a signal to EDL members to go over to that girl speaking out.”
Saffiya’s become an international hero of sorts
I fucking love this photo. Look at how helpless, clueless and raging the EDL prick is. Look at how in control, calm and cool-as-fuck she is pic.twitter.com/0CuzAoZFVo
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) April 8, 2017
The way she stares racism in the face is truly inspiring.
her name is saffiyah khan. iconic embodiment of both young modern britain and the entire concept of "u mad?" pic.twitter.com/xApkobsltb
— Luigi Hadid (@ElSangito) April 9, 2017
Women of color have always been the leaders of change.
Saffiyah Khan, UK. Leshia Evans, USA. A reminder that Women of color have always been at the forefront of resistance. pic.twitter.com/8D1hlJPN3m
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) April 10, 2017
Honestly the EDL can go f*** themselves.
So much love for this. Second photo of Saffiyah Khan staring down the EDL with a smile is even better. Solidarity, sister ????✊✊✊✊ pic.twitter.com/jbz9ZmXWWQ
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 9, 2017
Everyone’s fallen for this brave young gal.
I like Saffiyah Khan even more after reading this. Gutsy lady. https://t.co/g49sGSL848 pic.twitter.com/GCchWF4rly
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 9, 2017
Pass it on…
Her name is Saffiyah Khan, pass it on pic.twitter.com/7iBsQhpsM1
— Tiss, Filthy Radical (@NaturallyTiss) April 9, 2017
Saffiyah Khan ladies and gents. A beacon of hope right there.
"Sometimes it's more important to smile than to shout" – Saffiyah Khan went viral for smiling in the face of the EDL pic.twitter.com/PVzBaQFtlS
— Catrin Nye (@CatrinNye) April 10, 2017