#RespectforMuslims trends

One day after France's most violent attack in decades, the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie was where the world turned to express feelings of horror, desperation and hope at the deaths of 10 French journalists and two police officers.

Over the course of the day, however, the hashtag #RespectforMuslims entered the number two slot - a plea that the religion of peace not be associated with the acts of two criminals in France.

A hand-written letter of unknown origin also went viral as part of the online campaign, even though it was first published as early as 2014:

The campaign also breathed new life into a video interview in which American actor Ben Affleck defends Islam and renewed popular defense of One Direction's only Muslim singer.

For many the campaign was a welcome relief - and a call for future campaigns that could add to the message of this one.

The grass roots campaign is similar to the "Not in my name" campaign, which trended in September 2014 after "Islamic State" beheadings of hostages in Syria. It was followed by a somewhat sarcastic Twitter riposte known as "Muslim Apologies."