REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Recognition of American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month for 2024
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2016, the California State Legislature proclaimed August as Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month to respectfully acknowledge the rich history and guiding virtues of Muslim Americans, as well as commend Muslim communities in California for their lasting positive impacts toward the advancement of the nation.
Senator Aisha Wahab sponsored a measure to recognize the month of April as American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. By celebrating the month in April, it falls within the K-12 school year, allowing students from all faiths and backgrounds the opportunity to engage with, commemorate, and further their understanding of American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 133 was officially filed on May 31, 2024 with the California Secretary of State. Due to the legislative cycle, American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month would not have been celebrated again until April 2025.
Representatives from the Muslim Community Association (MCA) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA), requested that the proclamation be presented in August of 2024 and going forward in April 2025, as the City has an important role to play in responding to rising hate. In response to continuing Islamophobia, as well as in the spirit of community support, this year the City celebrates American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness month in August, and in 2025 will begin to celebrate the month in April.
The Bay Area has one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, with nearly 250,000 Muslims and diverse mosques, religious centers, and community institutions. American Muslims continue to make rich contributions to the social, cultural, and economic vibrancy of the Bay Area including Santa Clara. The City of Santa Clara embraces the diversity of its communities and ...
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