It has not been an easy past few months to be a Muslim in America, reports Boise State Public Radio, including in the Treasure Valley, where the Muslim population may be well over 10,000. Reporter Dan Greenwood reports that on a recent Friday, about 40 Muslim students gathered at the Boise State Student Union for prayer and fellowship. One sang verses from the Koran; a sermon followed on striving to become a better person. The students shared their thoughts, including Noora Muhamad, who said she believes people like Donald Trump are painting a complex religion with a broad brush. "With Donald Trump saying that we're all Jihadists, what about me? I grew up in America, I've learned American culture and I absolutely love it," she said. "Yet I'm still a Muslim woman and I love being a Muslim American."

Nationally, attacks and threats against Muslims have been on the rise following the attacks in Paris, Greenwood reported; the Boise Islamic Center received one harassing phone message last month. But John Landis, the center’s director of outreach, says there’s also been a surge in calls of support, including from Jewish and Christian leaders here. You can read and listen to Greenwood’s full report here.

It comes as two anti-Islam speakers, the Rev. Shahram Hadian, a Christian pastor from Chattaroy, Wash., and Christopher Holton, vice president of the Center for Security Policy and an anti-Sharia law activist, are set to speak in the Capitol’s Lincoln Auditorium tonight. The two are the featured speakers at a presentation on refugee resettlement to which all state lawmakers have been invited. Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, announced the session to the House today before its adjournment. “Citizens across the state are concerned about this issue, so please come on behalf of your constituents and learn the facts,” she said.

Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, made a similar announcement in the Senate. “There’s many citizens across the state that are concerned about this issue, so please come on behalf of your constituents and learn some more,” she told the Senate.

A competing presentation on refugee resettlement had been scheduled featuring law enforcement, resettlement and faith leaders along with refugees telling their own stories, but it was canceled after organizers said they didn’t want to hold it at the same time as the Hadian/Holton event. Instead, they said it will be scheduled within the coming weeks.