The Labor Day weekend marks the beginning of fall and the start of an intense political season culminating in the November election. But it also represents a major milestone for Muslims, one that Republicans and Democrats are both using to help get their message across to an important voting constituency in Northern Virginia.
Eid Mubarak. It’s the traditional celebration to mark the end of Ramadan, and candidates from both parties traditionally appear at Eid Mubarak celebrations in Northern Virginia to campaign for office. But this year is different because President Donald Trump’s travel ban from Muslim-majority countries. Yasmin Shafiq is a member at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, one of the largest mosques in the country.
“There are people from practically every country you can think of that are part of our congregation. So when it comes to traveling to the US from other countries or vice versa, it directly affects the Muslim community.”
Republican candidate for governor Ed Gillespie was at a mosque in Manassas. And all three Democrats on the statewide ticket were at an Eid Mubarak celebration in Tysons Corner. Lieutenant Governor candidate Justin Fairfax says it’s important to send the message to this community — now more than ever.
“We want to send the signal and the message that everyone here is welcome, that we will fight discrimination and bigotry and hatred and religious intolerance in this country.”
One of the speakers at the Tysons Corner celebration noted that the margin of victory for Mark Herring 2013 election as attorney general was smaller than the crowd in the room, an indication of how much power this community can yield at the ballot box this November.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
