<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THIS is the America I believe in.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Courtesy of <i>CBS News</i> at:</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/thousands-say-iwillprotectyou-to-8-year-old-muslim-girl-afraid-of-deportation/">http://www.cbsnews.com/news/thousands-say-iwillprotectyou-to-8-year-old-muslim-girl-afraid-of-deportation/</a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">--------------------------------</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><h1 class="title" itemprop="headline" style="font-size: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: nimbus-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 34); line-height: 0.9; text-rendering: auto; letter-spacing: -0.07em; word-spacing: -0.04em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Thousands say #IWillProtectYou to Muslim girl afraid of deportation</h1><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>DALLAS </strong>-- Melissa Yassini and her 8-year-old daughter, Sofia, spend some time every evening reading messages from the thousands of people who have told Sofia not to be afraid just because she's Muslim.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sofia's story of terror that she would be forced to leave America inspired a social media campaign with a hashtag, "#IWillProtectYou," that has generated posts from soldiers, veterans and others supporting her.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">lot of them, they call her out by name," Melissa Yassini said on Wednesday. "That's very important to her."</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Melissa Yassini originally shared her daughter's response to Republican presidential front-runner <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-mayor-calls-donald-trump-an-ahole/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer;">Donald Trump calling for a ban all Muslim immigration into the United States.</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sofia heard about <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-ban-muslims-totally-illegal/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer;">Trump's proposal</a> while the family was watching the evening news. While Trump has said he isn't targeting American Muslims, her mother said Sofia didn't make that distinction.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She packed a bag with Barbie dolls, a tub of peanut butter and a toothbrush. And she checked the locks of her family's home because she thought soldiers were coming to take her away.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sofia was featured in a Dec. 14 Associated Press story about how Muslim parents across the United States are grappling with frightened children amid rising anti-Islam sentiment, including several incidents and proposals targeting Muslims in Texas. The Yassinis live in the Dallas suburb of Plano.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One reader, Kerri Peek, wrote about Sofia and called on soldiers to reassure her. Thousands did. Many posted messages of support with selfies of themselves in combat uniforms. The hashtag was trending in several cities this week.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iwillprotectyou with my last breath Sofia!" wrote Brandon Sterne, a 22-year Navy veteran who served in Iraq.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sterne told the AP Wednesday that he had seen in Iraq the importance of supporting people of all faiths and races.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said he was particularly heartened by all of the posts from "my brothers and sisters in arms."</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">would just tell her that hatred's not going to win, that it's OK," Sterne said. "There are good people in the world, and the good people will always protect her from the evil people."</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yassini said her daughter is less afraid, but still nervous. She blamed <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-losing-business-over-proposed-muslim-ban/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer;">Trump's comments about Muslims</a> - which also include suggestions that he would require Muslims to register with the federal government or carry identification cards - for driving anti-Islamic sentiment.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Trump's words don't just end at what he says on that podium," she said. "It's far more reaching than that. When he goes on and says these things, it almost legitimizes or empowers the general public that they can say what they feel with Muslims."</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">--------------------</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Melissa Yassini and her 8-year-old daughter, Sofia, spend some time every evening reading messages from the thousands of people who have told Sofia not to be afraid just because she's Muslim.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/Photos/Melissa_Yassini.jpg">http://www.MoscowCares.com/Photos/Melissa_Yassini.jpg</a></p></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">--------------------------------<br><br></span><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares"</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></div><div></div></body></html>