Washington lawmakers consider bills to recognize two Muslim holidays
As-salamu alaykum, a greeting among Muslims that translates to peace be upon you, is how Sen. Yasmin Trudeau began recent testimony for her bill that would establish Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state-recognized holidays.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Trudeau, D-Tacoma, remembers calling a local radio station and expressing fears about the way people were responding to her faith. This was the first time she remembers people misinterpreting Islam and equating it to violence.
Trudeau wanted to introduce this bill to increase visibility about the Islamic faith, spark conversations between community members, and dispel damaging beliefs that lead to Islamophobia.
“I think curiosity is one of the things that we probably are lacking the most right now in political discourse,” Trudeau said.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/02/11/washington-lawmakers-consider-bills-to-recognize-two-muslim-holidays/