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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.