In a city with one of the highest percentages of American Muslim population, the Montclair Town Council has issued a proclamation designating January as a “Muslim Heritage Month.”
The proclamation was announced Tuesday during council meeting by mayor Sean Spiller in the heels of a statewide Muslim heritage month approved last year, Patch.com reported.
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“Whereas on April 29, 2023, Governor [Phil] Murphy signed a joint resolution number six by the Senate and General Assembly of the state of New Jersey designating the month of January of each year as Muslim Heritage Month,” Montclair’s resolution reads in part.
“And whereas Muslims are the world’s second largest religious group practicing the Islamic faith, with 1.9 billion followers representing approximately 25% of the world’s population, whereas there are over 300,000 Muslim Americans in New Jersey, representing one of the largest Muslim American communities in the United States. Their contributions help fortify and strengthen the economy diversity with the people of our great state and our local communities …
“Now therefore, the mayor and the town council of Montclair do hereby declare the month of January as Muslim Heritage Month and acknowledge the contributions of all Muslims who continue to enrich all aspects of the Montclair community.”
Last year, American Muslims welcomed the proclamation by the city of Richmond, Virginia, designating July as Muslim American Heritage Month.
Also in 2023, Muslims celebrated the signing of the Muslim Heritage Month Resolution into law by New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy.