Social media users were outraged when a series of racist Snapchat posts by an airline passenger who mistakenly believed a Sikh man was a terrorist went viral. An airline passenger posted a series of vile Snapchat ‘jokes’ claiming that a nearby Sikh looked like a terrorist, and he ‘might not make it’.

The Sikh man identified as Simran Jeet Singh, who is a professor at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas posted a thread about how a Sikh man was taken to be a Muslim on a flight. Professor Simran Jeet Singh teaches ‘Religion’ at the San Antonio College, took screenshots of a Snapchat user traveling to Indianapolis.

The unknown Snapchat user posted, ‘Never mind I might not make it to Indy’ and ‘Update I’m still alive’ after seeing a passenger wearing a turban.

Another of the messages said, ‘Please God just let the man sleep.

Another photo shows the Snapchat user taking a selfie. The caption reads: ‘OK he just walk to the back of the Plane then to the front then to his seat.’ The caption ends with a number of emojis indicating fear or alarm.

Simran Jeet Singh wrote, ‘This series of snaps should give you a sense of what it’s like for anyone who appears to be Muslim to travel by plane.’

This series of snaps should give you a sense of what it’s like for anyone who appears to be Muslim to travel by plane. *Thread* pic.twitter.com/9uHoVH4f6E

— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) June 22, 2017

The Professor has frequently spoken out against xenophobia and says he often experiences “uncomfortable stares and misguided fears” while traveling.

Some of Mr. Singh’s 19,700 followers expressed their dismay over the pictures, which were retweeted and shared more than 15,600 times.

Sikhs have increasingly been the victims of discrimination in the US following 9/11 and are sometimes mistaken for Muslims because they wear turbans and often have long beards.

I try to live my life by the Sikh maxim, “Fear none, frighten none.” I think about this teaching often when I travel.

— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) June 22, 2017

How do I retain my confidence and dignity on an airplane while also being thoughtful not to strike fear in the hearts of others?

— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) June 22, 2017

I think twice about getting up to use the restroom. I feel self-conscious when opening the overhead bin to take something out of my luggage.

— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) June 22, 2017

I use my values to guide my decisions in these moments. It’s a shame that we even have to think about such things — but it’s our reality.

— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) June 22, 2017

I look forward to the day when our kids can travel freely, without having to worry about what others might be thinking or saying about them.

— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) June 22, 2017

I don’t say any of this to seek pity or apologies. I want people to hear what kinds of things minority communities endure. #FlyingWhileBrown

— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) June 22, 2017

This series of tweets evoked Twitter outrage:

This is deplorable. Imagine having a Snapchat feed about fearing movie theatres if a white man with a backpack was around.

— Shireen Footybedsheets Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) June 24, 2017

It IS a shame that you have to think about those things. I’m sorry, I can’t imagine. Sometimes the people of my country embarrass me. ☮️

— IndependentinFlorida (@FloridaVoterNPA) June 23, 2017

It is unfair to put the burden of “not scaring others” on you. You should be able to just be.

— Billy Chuha (@almavogler) June 23, 2017

According to the Sikh Coalition, there were over 300 cases of violence and discrimination against Sikhs in the US in the first month after 9/11. In the 15 years that have followed 9/11, Sikhs remain hundreds of times more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry, and backlash than the average American, according to the organization.

The Sikhs are a religious group that numbers 27million followers. The faith originated on the Indian subcontinent. There are an estimated 500,000 Sikhs living in the US.