Mayor affirms City’s commitment to hosting future Eid celebrations and equal treatment of all faith communities
The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) today welcomed the public remarks of Newton Mayor Marc C. Laredo reaffirming the City’s support for its Muslim community following an organized campaign that sought to undermine Newton’s first public Eid al-Adha celebration.
The controversy arose after an organized effort attempted to cast suspicion on Newton’s Muslim community, the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland, and CAIR-MA through guilt-by-association allegations surrounding the May 30 Eid celebration held at Newton’s War Memorial Auditorium. Approximately 300 people attended the event to celebrate one of Islam’s holiest holidays.
In response to the controversy, Mayor Laredo publicly reaffirmed Newton’s commitment to welcoming residents of all faiths. As reported publicly, the Mayor stated:
“Newton is a welcoming city. We fully support the Eid celebration as we do celebrations of all other faiths and ethnicities in the City of Newton. People are welcome in Newton regardless of their religious ethnicity or whether they’ve been here two weeks or twenty years. We believe the allegations that were made are unfounded, and we are looking forward to hosting the Eid celebration again next year in our War Memorial Auditorium.”
Following the Mayor’s statement, CAIR-MA Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud personally contacted the Mayor’s office to express the organization’s appreciation for his support for Newton’s Muslim community.
In her message, she said:
“We appreciate Mayor Laredo’s leadership and his willingness to affirm publicly that Muslim residents deserve the same welcome and respect afforded to every other faith community,” said Amatul-Wadud.
Amatul-Wadud added:
“Muslim families should never have to justify their right to gather and celebrate one of the holiest days in Islam. We are grateful that the Mayor has spoken clearly, and we hope his response serves as an example for municipal leaders across the Commonwealth whenever any faith community becomes the target of organized hostility.”
CAIR-MA also thanked the many residents who publicly rejected anti-Muslim rhetoric and stood in solidarity with Newton’s Muslim community, including those who took the time to email messages of support to CAIR-MA directly.
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CONTACT: Barbara J. Dougan, Esq., CAIR-MA Legal Director, (781) 281-9992, bdougan@cair.com; Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, Esq., CAIR-MA Executive Director, (617) 862-9159, tamatul-wadud@cair.com