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Iowa Democratic Congressional Candidate Writes on 9/11 and Anti-Muslim Bigotry in Opinion Piece
Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Iowa, published an opinion piece in the Iowa Capital Dispatch discussing her experiences with anti-Muslim sentiment following the September 11, 2001, attacks. The piece responded to criticism she received in 2021 for sharing a Muslim prayer on the statehouse floor.
Apr 9, 2:20 PM·2m read1 source
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Sarah Trone Garriott, an Iowa state legislator and ordained Lutheran minister, is one of three Democratic candidates seeking the nomination for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, currently held by Republican Rep. Zach Nunn. In an opinion piece published by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Garriott described how the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks influenced her awareness of anti-Muslim bigotry.
The article was written in response to messages she received after reciting a prayer containing Arabic words, authored by a Muslim woman, on the Iowa statehouse floor in February 2021. Garriott recounted the content of the messages, which included stereotypes about Muslims such as references to Sharia law, hatred of freedom, and a violent religion.
Some messages asserted that the United States is a Judeo-Christian country and that Muslim prayers are not welcome there.
Others criticized Garriott personally, accusing her as a Christian leader of leading people astray. The candidate stated that the backlash reinforced her view of the need for greater religious diversity. She noted that she began her master's degree in theological studies at Harvard University the day after the 9/11 attacks.
On the diverse campus, she became more aware of rising anti-Muslim bigotry and its effects.
described herself as a biblical literalist who took Jesus' words about peacemakers to heart.
Following the attacks, she collaborated with Muslim classmates to organize a communal meal during Ramadan to foster unity. The opinion piece did not mention the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 9/11 attacks. In contrast, Rep.
Nunn joined the Air Force in response to the events and flew more than 100 combat missions in defense of the United States, according to his spokesperson, Mark Matava. Matava criticized Garriott's piece for focusing on bigotry without referencing the victims.
