Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Declaring Intent
Purpose: Resolution declaring the month of January as Muslim Heritage Month
Date: January 1, 2024
Sponsor: Council Member, Patrick O. Council
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, on April 29, 2023, Governor Philip D. Murphy signed Joint Resolution #6 (SJR105/AJR194) by the New Jersey Senate and the General Assembly, primary sponsors include, Senators Joe Pennacchio, Brian Stack, and Assembly Members, Angela McKnight, Shanique Speight, and Annette Chaparro, designating the month of January of each year, as Muslim Heritage Month; and
WHEREAS, this historic move acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of the Muslim community in New Jersey. Governor Murphy emphasized that this designation is a recognition of the rich histories, cultures, and principles of Muslim Americans, highlighting their roles in various sectors such as patriotism, philanthropy, advocacy, civic engagement, and culture; and
WHEREAS, Muslims are the world's second-largest religious group practicing the Islamic faith with 1.9 billion followers representing approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the world's population, there are about 3.45 million Muslims in the United States from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The Muslim community represents 1.1% of the population in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Muslims first arrived in North America, along with enslaved Africans, whom historians estimate 30% were Muslim. Their Islamic beliefs and practices contributed in numerous ways to the founding of our nation, including courageous and dictated military services in every major war, including the American Revolutionary War; and
WHEREAS, there are over 300,000 Muslim Americans in New Jersey, representing one of the largest Muslim-American communities in the Unite...
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