Because I have a right to celebrate, too

“Liberty and Justice for ALL”

These simple, meaningful and beautiful words we repeat every morning summarize everything this country stands for. We see them everywhere, on the diverse faces we see at school or work. We can see them as we pass a church, mosque or synagogue and see worshipers practicing their faiths safely- at least for the most part. Of course, there are exceptions and it’s definitely not a utopia. But that is where our role is; to make a change whenever we see that something does not abide by the laws guaranteeing Liberty and Justice for each and every one of us, regardless of their race, ethnicity or background.

One of the instances where Liberty and Justice are not granted for everyone lies in Frederick County Public Schools, where Christian and Jewish students are allowed to be off for their holidays, celebrating with family and practicing their faith, but Muslim students are not. On the holidays that are most important to the students, their families, and their faith, they have to go to school, or either they’d miss that one really important test that would be the difference between letter grades. If students decide to skip school that day, it is not easy either. First, they would need to write a letter explaining the importance of this religious holiday, then they’d spend the next week making up work for the day they missed, and regretting that they missed a single day. And the Joy of the holiday just fades…

In order to make sure that FCPS (Frederick County Public Schools) Muslim students get the holidays off in the 2018-2019 school year, Fatima Younis has been working tirelessly and speaking at the FCPS Board of Education to guarantee Muslim students inclusion and justice. In her efforts to emphasize how important it is for students to get holidays off, and to illustrate the pervasive support from the community for this proposal, Fatima Younis is organizing an e-mail campaign.

If you are willing to stand in solidarity with FCPS Muslim community, and to make your voice heard, please look at the sample email below, and send it to FCPS Board of Education (boe@fcps.org) to make sure Muslim students get the representation they deserve, and to ensure Liberty and Justice for all.

Sample email text:

Subject: Day Off for Muslim High Holy Holidays

To: boe@fcps.org

Hello Frederick County Board of Education,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Frederick County Muslim community asking for a day off for FCPS students on Muslim High Holy Holidays.

Muslims constitute an important part of the Frederick County community and use their skills and talents to give back to those around them. Muslims deserve the respect, dignity, and inclusion of having days off for Muslim holidays. If Christians and Jews have the right to days off, then why shouldn't Muslims?

We are asking you to change the date of the teacher work day on April 5, 2019 to June 4, which is the day that Eid al-Fitr falls on. Although the new calendar implemented by the governor gives the Board less flexibility when it comes to serving the community, a change in the date of a teacher work day will not make much of a difference.

[Insert your testimony if you are a current or former Muslim FCPS student or a parent of an FCPS student.]

Thank you for taking the time to consider our request.

Sincerely,

[Your name here.]

#journal