Title
Resolution Reaffirming Religious Freedom in Response to Recent Activities and Encouraging Participation in Religious Freedom Day Activities
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Whereas, The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution has enshrined religious freedom as a fundamental right and Thomas Jefferson considered it to be “the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights;”
Whereas, Since the foundations of this country, this freedom has historically been extended to people of all religions and those who are nonreligious, as seen in the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom in 1779, explicitly referencing but not limited to Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Atheism, along with Christianity;
Whereas, In recent weeks there has been an increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric in the public discourse, especially surrounding the construction of the Park51 Islamic Community Center, formerly known as Cordoba House, in the borough of Manhattan in New York City;
Whereas, This anti-Muslim rhetoric has translated into violent actions across the nation. On August 24, 2010, Ahmed H. Sharif was stabbed in New York by someone who attacked him because he was a Muslim. In the early morning of August 28th, parts of the construction to the Islamic Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, were set on fire;
Whereas, On September 10, 2010, a burned Qur'an was found at the front entrance of the Islamic Center of East Lansing, Michigan;
Whereas, Ann Arbor, Michigan is home to a sizeable Muslim community that is put at risk by the rise in anti-Muslim activities;
Whereas, On October 18, 2004 the Ann Arbor City Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the importance of religious freedom and affirming that, "Democracy and the freedoms it engenders cannot exist without civil discourse that shows tolerance for all beliefs;"
Whereas, The Council on American Islamic Relations - Michigan, and local interfaith organizations have asked that communities and their elected leaders affirm their commitments to religious ...
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