The United Maryland Muslim Council, in conjunction with its interfaith partners, hosted an interfaith legislative night in Annapolis recently. Sponsored by Maryland State Senator James Brochin and local Muslim councils, the event brought together the Muslim community with elected officials from both Democratic and Republican parties.
Guests at the event included Maryland state Delegates Bilal Ali and Jay Jalisi, Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and Secretary of State John Wobensmith, along with representatives of U.S. Congress members and senators.
During the evening reception, Ellicott City resident and UMMC President Rizwan Siddiqi recognized Prince George’s County Police Corporal Mujahid Ramzziddin, a devout Muslim who was shot and killed while off-duty trying to protect a woman in his neighborhood against domestic violence.
Among the legislative issues discussed was gun control. Siddiqi remarked “guns are (a) common denominator for hate crimes, domestic violence, homicide or school shootings,” and demanded “legislators pass common sense gun control laws, ban purchase of semi-automatic weapons and implement background checks at gun shows, while protecting rights under second amendment.”
The UMMC also pledged its full support for The Maryland End Genocide Bill (HB 1787), introduced by Delegate Bilal Ali (Baltimore City - District 41). If passed, the bill would ensure Maryland taxpayer money is spent and invested in a manner that upholds human rights, not in countries that participate in crimes against humanity such as the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
To learn more about the UMMC, go to ummc-md.org or follow the group on Facebook at “United Maryland Muslim Council - UMMC.”
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On Saturday, March 31, at 10 a.m., kids are invited to bring their Easter egg baskets to Bethany United Methodist Church’s Egg Hunt. Families are encouraged to stay after the event to enjoy children’s games, activities, a moon bounce and balloon animals. Event is free and does not require registration. The church is at 2875 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City. For more information, contact Cathy Vitek at cathy@bethanyum.org or 410-465-2919.
Calling all foodies. St. Jude Hope in the Harbor Gala will feature some of Baltimore area’s best restaurants.
On Thursday, April 19, rom 6 to 10 p.m., the ninth annual St. Jude Hope in the Harbor Gala at historic Montgomery Park will feature tasting tables with food and chefs from Absolutely Perfect Catering, Cattail Creek Country Club, Charm City Cakes, The Elephant, Eleven Courses, La Scala Ristorante Italiano, Lebanese Taverna, The Local Oyster, Manor Hill Tavern, Sparrow’s Point Country Club and Wit & Wisdom.
The benefit celebrates the lives of Ellicott City teenager Keeley Imel and Centreville teen William Glowacki while raising awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where they received treatment for brain cancer. Unfortunately, Imel lost her battle with cancer in 2012 and Glowacki lost his second battle with the disease this past June.
The event is an opportunity for their families, friends and the community to continue the fight against childhood cancer by supporting the mission of St. Jude: Finding Cures. Saving Children. Since the inaugural event, the St. Jude Hope in the Harbor gala has raised more than $2.4 million for the hospital.
Through fundraising events like Hope in the Harbor, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because the organization believes all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago.
Individual gala tickets are $195. Corporate sponsorships and advertising also available. For sponsorship, volunteer or ticket information, contact Martha Pheeny at 703-650-4503 or go to stjude.org/hope.