Florida Senate - 2026                            (NP)    SR 1578
       
       
        
       By Senator Smith
       
       
       
       
       
       17-00090A-26                                          20261578__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing February 2026 as “Muslim
    3         American Heritage Month” in Florida and celebrating
    4         the 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 country’s founding, and
   10         WHEREAS, between the 16th and 19th centuries, many enslaved
   11  Africans brought to the United States were Muslim, contributing
   12  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 Floridian Muslim Americans such as
   29  Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American businessman and owner of the
   30  Jacksonville Jaguars, and Alli A.B. Majeed, Brevard County’s
   31  longest serving county judge, exemplify the profound impact
   32  Muslim Americans have had on Florida’s economy and legal system,
   33  and
   34         WHEREAS, Muslim Americans, such as Christopher Benjamin,
   35  the first Muslim American elected to the Florida House of
   36  Representatives, have shown leadership in public service, and
   37         WHEREAS, Muslim Americans have served honorably in the
   38  United States Armed Forces, contributing to the defense and
   39  protection of the United States in every major conflict,
   40  including Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim American who made the
   41  ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004, and
   42         WHEREAS, the Muslim-American community in Florida is
   43  composed of individuals from more than 85 countries,
   44  representing a wide array of ethnicities, cultures, and
   45  languages, adding to the state’s vibrant multicultural
   46  landscape, and
   47         WHEREAS, the Muslim-American community faces challenges,
   48  including discrimination and misunderstanding, yet it continues
   49  to thrive and contribute to the progress of this state and the
   50  United States, NOW, THEREFORE,
   51  
   52  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   53  
   54         That February 2026 is recognized as “Muslim-American
   55  Heritage Month” in Florida to celebrate the heritage and culture
   56  of Muslim Americans in this state.