Excerpt:
Philadelphia City Council on Thursday called on the city and the school district to officially recognize two Muslim holidays, which would give students and employees those days off.
Speaking before a chamber packed with Muslim men wearing prayer caps and women wearing hijabs, Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. said the change would impact an estimated 200,000 Philadelphians who practice Islam.
Jones said a friend had questioned his timing, considering the recent shooting of a Philadelphia police officer by a man who said he had acted on behalf of Islam.