MINNESOTA – Council of Churches in states such as Minnesota, New York,  Kentucky, Ohio, and Washington are banding together to distribute ‘Blessed Ramadan’ signs. 

The Blessed Ramadan campaign was originally organized by the Minnesota Council of Churches, which has 25 members representing a number of denominations and synods across the state.

From there, Council of Churches from other states began jumping on board with the initiative, ordering the signs to be distributed to their congregations. 

Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota, called it “a great initiative.”

“It’s a sign that deters bigotry and promotes tolerance in many ways,” Hussein said.

By the time Ramadan began Sunday evening (June 5), Council of Churches in various states had already distributed thousands of signs and ordered thousands more. 

But the initiative is going strongest where it began, in Minnesota.

“In Minnesota, there has been a significant amount of Islamophobia, and yet that is not who we are in Minnesota. We are a welcoming, caring, respectful community,” said Jerad Morey, program and communications director for the council.

19 churches across Minnesota with denominations ranging from Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians jumped on board to spread the word.

“It creates a sense of empathy for our neighbors,” Susan Sheridan Tucker, one of the people picking up a sign, said “I think the Muslim community is having a difficult time having to justify their being.”

‘Blessed Ramadan’ signs can be ordered in bulk or printed for free on www.blessedramadan.org.