COALITION ADVOCATES FOR MUSLIM SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
WE’RE COUNTING ON CONTINUITY By Imam Al-Hajj Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid New York City, once referred to by former Mayor David Dinkins as a “beautiful mosaic” stands poised once again at yet another historic juncture in its 345th year of existence. Last week, in an unprecedented demonstration of unanimity the City Council of New York voted 50-1 in favor of adding the two major Muslim holy days of Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Adha, to the Department of Education calendar for school closings. According to the Associated Press, when asked whether or not he would support the Council’s action, current Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed his concern. “When you have a city as diverse as New York, you simply can’t close the schools for every religious holiday”, he stated, “it depends upon the number of school children affected”. The fact of the matter though is that the city’s Muslim community numbering some 800,000 people, are both hopeful and prayerful that Mr. Bloomberg will make a decision consistent with...