Op-ed: Philadelphia’s mayoral candidates listened to the city’s Muslims. Will they follow through?

At the Philadelphia Muslim Community Mayoral Candidates Forum, one thing was abundantly clear: Philadelphia’s Muslims are being heard.

Ten of the eleven registered mayoral candidates running to become the next mayor of Philadelphia gathered at Masjidullah Center for Human Excellence on Saturday, March 18, to share their platforms with over 250 members of the Muslim community. The event was nothing short of historic: it was the first time that Philadelphia’s mayoral candidates acknowledged the importance of the Muslim voting bloc and took time in their campaigns to address the community’s unique issues.

These candidates are right to listen to this group. No candidate will be able to win this election without the support of the 300,000+ Muslims who live, worship, and work in the city.

Throughout the two hour event, moderator Aliya Khabir of AZK Communications, and myself and my co-panelists—Masjidullah’s Imam Idris Abdul Zahir and Council on American Islamic Relations: Philadelphia’s Asiyah Jones—questioned the candidates on a variety of topics, including public safety, gun violence, Philadelphia’s failing schools and infrastructure, healthcare, and cost of living, especially property assessments and taxes leading to gentrification.

Three issues stood out as deeply relevant and important to the Muslim community: securing the Muslim holidays Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha as holidays on the public school and city calendars; offering halal food options in public schools for the over 25,000 students, staff, and faculty who identify as Muslim; and addressing and combatting anti-Muslim and anti-Black hate. Addressing these issues will have immediate, tangible effects on the daily lives of Philadelphia’s Muslims, but they require decisive action backed up by clear, deliverable strategies. Lip service will not do: we as a community require a plan.

The candidate’s responses to these issues, and the questions at large, were varied, though promising.

Many candidates highlighted their longterm relationships with the Muslim community in their political or business careers. Retired municipal court judge James Deleon referenced the First Amendment when promising to support efforts that ensure fair treatment for all constituents. Former Councilmember Derek Green voiced his support of past policy initiatives by his colleague Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., a practicing Muslim who was also in attendance.

Former Councilmember Cherelle Parker stated that she would work with the unions that represent the approximately 26,000 city employees to secure Muslim holidays on the municipal calendar. Businessman and former Councilmember Allan Domb tied the question of Muslim holiday recognition to his own Jewish faith, reflecting on a time when he successfully requested that votes be postponed to observe Yom Kipppur and other Jewish holidays.

Former Councilmembers Helen Gym, David Oh, and Maria Quinones-Sanchez, former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart, and candidate Warren Bloom all stated that they would support efforts to provide accommodations, including prayer spaces and access to halal meals for Muslim children in Philadelphia’s public schools.

Following the forum, Imam Kenneth Nuriddin of the Philadelphia Masjid stated, “I’m sure the candidates realized that we didn’t come to see them, but so they can see us.” This, to me, was the essence of the forum: While it was certainly important for our community to hear more about the candidate’s platforms, it was crucial that the candidates took the time to listen to what matters the most to us.

The road to victory must include the Muslim voting bloc – and not just in Philadelphia, but in all local, state, and national elections.

Philadelphia’s mayoral candidates have made history in their engagement with the city’s Muslims. Now, we must wait and see if they will carry the promises they made to us throughout their campaigns and integrate them into their platforms. We will be watching.

Salima Suswell is Executive Director of Emgage’s Pennsylvania chapter.