Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Muslim Students Rally to Demand School Holidays
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 1, 2010
Modified Jul 1, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 1, 2010
Modified Jul 1, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Islam is the fastest growing religion in NYC, and according to a Columbia University study, 120,000 of the school's 1.1 million students are Muslim. But the DOE does not recognize Islamic holidays on the school calendar, and Muslim students who miss school for religious holiday's have to make up for the schoolwork they missed. Last year the City Council passed a resolution calling for two Muslim holy days, Eid-ul Adha and Eid-ul Fitr, to be added to the school calendar, but Mayor Bloomberg, who has the final say in which holidays are approved, has not taken action.
So yesterday a group of Muslim parents, students and their supporters gathered Wednesday on the steps of City Hall to call on the mayor to respect the City Council's resolution. If you check out the NY1 segment, at the 15 second mark you'll see the most adorable, on-message little demonstrator ever, who said "We want to make our holiday like other people. We want to be equal like other people. It's not fair. We want to get our rights just like other people get their rights," said one student.
Asked about the protest, Bloomberg told reporters, "I'm sympathetic that they would like it, but the truth of the matter is, we need more school days, not less." But yesterday the protesters pointed out that the DOE was considering pushing back the first day of school to accommodate Rosh Hashanah, suggesting that the city was willing to accommodate other religions, but not theirs.
In solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters, here's a great video of Franz Ferdinand performing "Jacqueline" live in Holland:
Tagged
City Council
islam
muslim
school holidays
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 11:36 a.m. ET
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
Seeing high hopes dashed had become so routine, it was part of our identity. This year feels different.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
Seeing high hopes dashed had become so routine, it was part of our identity. This year feels different.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .