WHEREAS, Freedom of religion holds the distinction of being a cherished right and a fundamental value upon which the law and ethics of the United States are based; and

WHEREAS, Enriched by the unparalleled diversity of its residents, the State of California takes great pride in supporting individual religious freedoms and is strengthened by the diverse religious, political, and cultural traditions of its residents, including Americans who practice Islam; and

WHEREAS, The history of Islam in this country dates back to before its founding, originating with enslaved Africans who brought their Muslim beliefs with them to the Americas and who later contributed in numerous ways to the founding of the nation, and there are today millions of American Muslims, both immigrant and native born, of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Approximately 1,000,000 American Muslims currently reside in California, the highest number of any state in the United States; and

WHEREAS, American Muslims contribute greatly to the fabric of California and to causes that help people from all faiths and backgrounds in California, in the United States, and around the world by providing family services, scholastic supplies, medical assistance, before and after school programs, recuperation efforts following natural disasters, and food to the hungry; and

WHEREAS, California is home to several prominent Muslim figures who continue to make significant contributions to the State of California and the United States as business owners, legal professionals, doctors, engineers, teachers, farmers, civil rights leaders, humanitarians, and athletes, and in many other great, notable capacities; and

WHEREAS, Muslims across California have made invaluable contributions to the arts, including film and television, comedy, music, and the visual arts; and

WHEREAS, The 2016 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey found that while Muslims are a religious minority on campuses, they are racially diverse, with a majority of the population identifying as women, with varied social class backgrounds, more likely to work during their college years, and more likely to participate in student organizations than their peers of nonreligious or other religious backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month (AMAAM) has been held annually in August since its inception in 2016 and is being moved to the month of April in order to fall within the K–12 school year to allow students from all faiths and backgrounds the opportunity to engage with, commemorate, and further their understanding of American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Incidents of hate continue to impact the Muslim community and were exacerbated considerably last year with no less than 756 individual reports including hate crimes, mosque vandalism, school bullying, workplace and housing discrimination, and hate speech targeted at Muslims; and

WHEREAS, In the first decade of the 21st century, the Federal Bureau of Investigation profiled and spied on Muslim communities in northern and southern California, forcing the Muslim community at large to fight for the rights of its community members; and

WHEREAS, As recently as 2022, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training utilized as a training tool a video depicting Muslims inside prisons as likely to radicalize and form extremist organizations that could attack United States targets, perpetuating anti-Muslim sentiments among peace officers; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature acknowledges the importance of the state government in advocating for peace and justice, understanding that Muslims everywhere deserve to live in peace and safety; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to acknowledge and promote awareness of the myriad of invaluable contributions of American Muslims in California and across the country and extend to them the respect and camaraderie every American deserves; now, therefore, be it