Florida Senate - 2025 (NP) SR 1384 By Senator Smith 17-00784-25 20251384__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing May 2025 as Muslim-American 3 Heritage Month in Florida and celebrating the 4 heritage and culture of Muslim Americans in this 5 state. 6 7 WHEREAS, Muslim immigration to the American colonies began 8 with the arrival of indentured workers in the early years of 9 this countrys founding, and 10 WHEREAS, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, many 11 enslaved Africans brought to the United States were Muslim, 12 contributing to the early presence of Islam in America, and 13 WHEREAS, in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, successive 14 waves of Muslim immigrants came to the United States seeking 15 economic, social, and religious freedom, enriching communities 16 throughout this state and nation across diverse fields, 17 including business, medicine, education, law, and the arts, and 18 WHEREAS, Muslim Americans contribute greatly to charitable 19 organizations in Florida and across the nation, offering aid to 20 people of all faiths through humanitarian work, such as medical 21 services, educational programs, food distribution, refugee 22 services, and disaster relief, and 23 WHEREAS, Muslim Americans have made significant 24 advancements in numerous fields, including architecture, arts, 25 business, medicine, law, sports, and government, enhancing the 26 quality of life and cultural diversity in this state and the 27 United States, and 28 WHEREAS, prominent Muslim Americans such as Fazlur Rahman 29 Khan, a pioneering structural engineer who helped design iconic 30 buildings like the Willis Tower in Chicago, and Shahid Khan, a 31 Pakistani-American businessman and owner of the Jacksonville 32 Jaguars, exemplify the profound impact Muslim Americans have had 33 on the United States economy and culture, and 34 WHEREAS, Muslim Americans, such as Keith Ellison, the first 35 Muslim American elected to the United States Congress, and 36 Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim-American women in 37 the United States Congress, have shown the political strength 38 and leadership of Muslim Americans in public service, and 39 WHEREAS, Muslim Americans contribute greatly to this state, 40 including many who are leaders in business, education, medicine, 41 and sports, and continue to shape the states diverse identity 42 and economy, and 43 WHEREAS, the Muslim-American community in Florida is 44 composed of individuals from more than 77 countries, 45 representing a wide array of ethnicities, cultures, and 46 languages, adding to the states vibrant multicultural 47 landscape, and 48 WHEREAS, Muslim Americans have served honorably in the 49 United States Armed Forces, contributing to the defense and 50 protection of the United States in every major conflict, 51 including Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim American who made the 52 ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004, and 53 WHEREAS, the Muslim-American community faces challenges, 54 including discrimination and misunderstanding, yet it continues 55 to thrive and contribute to the progress of this state and the 56 United States, and 57 WHEREAS, there is a need for public education, awareness, 58 and policies that foster cultural competence and understanding 59 about the significant contributions of Muslim Americans to all 60 aspects of life in Florida, and 61 WHEREAS, the Senate wishes to recognize and celebrate the 62 rich cultural heritage of Muslim Americans and their 63 contributions to this state and the United States, which is in 64 keeping with the Senates time-honored tradition of honoring the 65 diversity of cultural backgrounds which enriches this state and 66 strengthens its social fabric, NOW, THEREFORE, 67 68 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 69 70 That the Senate recognizes May 2025 as Muslim-American 71 Heritage Month in Florida and celebrates the heritage and 72 culture of Muslim Americans in this state.