The NJ Statewide Cultural Festival is taking place on Sunday, October 22. This day coincides with  the last day of Ramadan or possibly the first day of Eid-Ul Fitr, the first of a three-day religious celebration for the state’s 500,00 Muslims. Talk about insensitivity or simply inexcusable ignorance of major religious holidays. This Festival is an important gateway for all ethnic communities in NJ. If "Diversity is Our Strength" as the event's flyer claims, it would have been better if the event took place on a different date to enable greater Muslim participation. I know that my family and I would have wanted to participate n this important cultural event. 
AAF has communicated its concern about this omission to the NJ Secretary of State whose office is organizing the event. We are not crying conspiracy or intentional disrespect for the state 500,000 Muslim residents.  We are saying, however, that had there been a more comprehensive statewide calendar of events, a different date would have been promoted. This is one reason why we have been urging the creation of the Arab and Muslim Heritage Commission whose main task would be to disseminate accurate and timely information to and from our community. This demand was squarely placed before Governor Jon Corzine when we met with him in May. A recent follow up call to his office assured us that a decision is to be made in the next two weeks.
Is it not a reasonable demand that we ask that public events- from a local school board meeting to a statewide function- are not held on major Muslim religious holidays? It does not suffice that we abstain from such events, however. We must convey our displeasure and expect sensitivity to our special dates. Are we equal citizens only when taxes are due? Aref Assaf

Read the letter to the Secretary of State