Muslims students in Rutherford NJ, are faced with the choice to either practice their religion or focus on education, which are both significant in a person's life. However, schools do not let Muslim students have their own religion recognized or have their festivals given the respect they should deserve.

The holiday of Eid-Al-Fitr is extremely important and meaningful for Muslim students. Sometimes, that holiday will land on a weekday, when their will almost inevitably be school. Missing a day of school means more workload, missed lessons leading to convoluted understanding on subjects, and stress from any quizzes or tests that may happen on that day. Muslims students are at a disadvantage. 

School districts in and throughout Bergen County have done the same for their Muslim students, such as Paramus and Teaneck, and a plethora of them are considering doing so to help Muslim students. Why then, should Rutherford not do the same? Giving a singular day off for the Eid-Al-Fitr holiday would truly show the inclusivity and diversity of Rutherford, and put them on par with other similar towns. 

So all I ask is for you is to sign this petition. Not only does this support the Muslim students in a specific community or one area, but it creates long-lasting and strong ripples that travel towards other towns and cities to spread this form of change. For change starts locally and then expands. This will help Muslim students feel valued, respected, and more accommodated within the community of Rutherford, and eventually, in numerous other places as well.