Less than an hour later, amid a social media backlash, the company reversed its stance and decided the situation might warrant an actual act of charity. (Uber did not immediately respond to VICE's request for comment.)We are all concerned with events in CBD. Fares have increased to encourage more drivers to come online & pick up passengers in the area.
— Uber Sydney (@Uber_Sydney)December 15, 2014
At least two news organizations came under fire for their responses to the crisis as well. Pedestrian Daily, a youth-oriented online news site, used a silly photo of a what appeared to be a Lindt chocolate bunny as their banner image for coverage of the situation. Readers reacted with distaste, naturally, and online media and marketing site Mumbrella called attention to the tone-deaf picture. The site subsequently changed the photo to one of the scene in Martin Place and apologized for the lapse in judgment.Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph, a local tabloid newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, released a 2 PM edition specifically to cover the hostage crisis.Uber Sydney trips from CBD will be free for riders. Higher rates are still in place to encourage drivers to get into the CBD.
— Uber Sydney (@Uber_Sydney)December 15, 2014
The paper was promptly lambasted for the link to the Islamic State when no such association was established and the authorities were purposely avoiding that sort of innuendo. The outlet was further criticized for speculating about the number of hostages.Sydney's Daily Telegraph has printed a special 2pm edition -
— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort)December 15, 2014
People taking selfies at — Kety Shapazian (@KetyBrazil)December 15, 2014
— Juliette Saly (@julesaly)December 15, 2014Most of these responses can be attributed to confusion or a lack of consideration. But for a few, the siege inspired actual malice.Extremist nationalist groups such as the Australian Defence League posted updates and comments like this one on Facebook: " Here it is folks, homegrown islamic terrorism in our backyard, courtesy of successive australian governments and their brainwashed voters."Some even showed up to the police barricade to shriek racist slurs.Some people are taking selfies and others are drinking beer in Martin Place as the
— Kiera (@KieraGorden)December 15, 2014In reaction to that malice, and in anticipation of possible persecution, Sydney Muslim communities condemned the actions of the gunman and offered whatever help they could. Forty Muslim groups said in a joint statement, "We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being or to instill fear and terror into their hearts." Religious leaders from around the nation united in prayer.A Sydney commuter, Rachael Jacobs, apparently saw a woman silently taking off her hijab and told her, "Put it back on. I'll walk with you." Rachael then posted a series of Facebook statuses describing the event..
— GenErik (@ErikVeland)December 15, 2014Then Twitter user Sir Tessa offered a similar service and suggested a hashtag for those who wanted to do the same: #illridewithyou.Be more like this.
If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don't feel safe alone: I'll ride with you. @ me for schedule.
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa)December 15, 2014
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa)December 15, 2014By 2:15 AM local time, police had stormed the cafe. The hostage situation is over, though #illridewithyou tweets are still circulating—they've become more about religious tolerance in a broad sense. A trending topic might not be much of a silver lining, but at least some people are thinking positive thoughts in the wake of all this.Maybe start a hashtag? What's in