islamaphobia

SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — The California State Assembly voted Monday to pass a resolution that will officially recognize August 2016 as Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month.

It arrives at a time of ever-increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric, to arecent civil rights report compiled by the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The resolution, named HR-59, was introduced by Assemblyman Bill Quirk in June after he was approached by a community activist on the subject. It was officially passed on Aug. 1 with bipartisan support.

“Muslim Americans have made contributions to education, science, entertainment and medicine both nationally and globally,” Quirk said afterward. “Unfortunately, the Muslim community has been, and continues to be, the target of harassment, discrimination and assaults.”

He added, “It is appropriate to acknowledge and promote awareness of the myriad invaluable contributions of Muslim Americans in California and across the country, and extend to them the respect and camaraderie every American deserves.”

Basim Elkarra, Executive Director of CAIR-Sacramento Valley, called the passing of the resolution a day of hope for Muslim-Americans all over the country. He explained that Muslims contribute vast amounts of to the diversity of the U.S. and the state of California, carrying various roles throughout the state as engineers, doctors, law enforcement and more.

“Muslims participate in every facet of life in California and for them to be appreciated for their contributions … it’s very hopeful for the community when the community is under siege in this election cycle,” Elkarra said.

Just earlier this week, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump suggested that Ghazala Khan, the mother of a U.S. Army captain that was killed in Iraq, did not speak on stage during her husband’s speech at the Democratic National Convention because “maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say.” Muslim-American women from around the country took to Twitter, using the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow in response to Trump’s allegations and stereotypes of anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Trump has since responded, posting to Twitter on Monday, “Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same – Nice!”

This is not the first time California has designated a month to recognize the contributions of the Muslim-American community. In 2014, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a resolution declaring July 2014 as Muslim American Heritage Month.