On Thursday, President Obama hosted more than 100 Muslim Americans to a belated celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, during which he talked about the contributions Muslims have made to America declaring “Muslim Americans have enriched our lives every single day.”
In the wake of Islamophobic rhetoric and attacks, Obama told his guests, “And I especially want to speak to the young people who are here, to make sure that you know that we see you, that we believe in you.”
Obama continued about the importance of Muslim Americans, “You’re our firefighters, our police officers — like Deputy Police Chief Malik Aziz of the Dallas Police Department, who’s helping that community that is still grieving heal after the tragic attack against law enforcement in that city. So let’s be clear: Muslim Americans are as patriotic, as integrated, as American as any other members of the American family. And whether your family has been here for generations or you’re a new arrival, you’re an essential part of the fabric of our country.”
