Photo by Kamal Moon
As Palestinians in Gaza suffer relentless bombing and starvation, Milwaukee’s Muslim community opts for subdued Ramadan and Eid celebrations, beginning with the cancellation in March of Eat Halal Milwaukee’s Suhoor Food Truck Festival.
Milwaukee usually celebrates Eid al-Fitr, one of two major holidays on the Islamic calendar, with a large community prayer service followed by feasting and a festival for families to enjoy.
This year will be different.
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee is expected to announce the cancellation of Eidfest out of respect for the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, ISM president Salah Sarsour told the Wisconsin Muslim Journal early this week.
“On the day of the Eid, we want to show the people in Gaza that we stand with them,” Sarsour said. “We want to show respect for the people we lost.”
Milwaukee Muslim community’s annual Eid al-Fitr festival “is one of the best things our community has done,” he added. “Every year thousands of community members come to enjoy rides and food vendors. Families find it a safe and happy place to celebrate Eid together.
“This year we asked people in the community from different groups what we should do in light of Gaza, where what is happening now is the worst that has happened anywhere in the world for decades. The feedback was that this is not the time to host a festival. No priority is more important than stopping the war in Gaza and serving the Palestinians there.”
