Samuel L Jackson made it out to the 12th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival, and he pulled no punches.
During a one-on-one conversation, the movie star and producer called Muslim Americans "the new black kids."
"Muslims are getting arrested like black kids get arrested, Muslim Americans are the new black kids in America," he said, according to Gulf News.
Jackson touched on various political matters, including the rise of Islamophobia in the United States.
"Suspect as we are for the dominant culture, people don’t understand them. People perceive them as a threat before even saying hello," he added.
Jackson discussed positive contributions Muslims have made in the United States, and pointed to some statistics about their relative success in various social and economic aspects.
"They are a vital part of our country and interestingly enough they have less crime, more education and their businesses thrive more than any other group in the country."
Muslims have been always been an integral part of America. Yet, they are still widely discriminated against, now more so than ever before.
From getting kicked off planes to getting arrested for wearing traditional attire, Muslims in America have not had the smoothest year, especially in light of President-elect Donald Trump's predominantly xenophobic campaign.
Hate crimes against Muslims in 2015 spiked by 67 percent, according to a report released by the FBI in November.
There were 257 documented hate crimes against Muslims in the U.S. in 2015, up from 154 in 2014.
