We just celebrated Memorial Day: One single day devoted to the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for American freedom.
In July, we will spend the 4th with fireworks and BBQ to celebrate our nation’s independence. One day to mark the signatories of the Declaration of Independence and the victory of the Revolutionary War.
But, AB278 is sitting on the Governor’s desk, which would designate the entire month of July as Muslim Heritage Month in Nevada.
Now, before we go further, let me be clear – this isn’t about opposing any particular faith or group of people. Religious liberty is a cornerstone of American freedom. But, can you name a single prominent Muslim who hails from Nevada? Probably not.
By the Numbers
The math is simple. According to the 2022 PRRI Census of American Religion, less than 1% of Nevadans identify as Muslim. The Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study confirms this, showing that 1% of Nevada adults identify as Muslim.
How does that small percentage warrant a month-long government proclamation?
Compare that to other groups. Mormons played a huge role in Nevada’s early settlement and development, yet they don’t have a commemorative month.
Neither do Catholics, who make up 25% of Nevada’s population according to recent studies. Protestants comprise 35% of the state’s residents. None of these much larger religious groups has their own government-declared heritage months.
That’s because the government shouldn’t be celebrating religious groups at all.
By the Book: Separation of Church and State
The bill doesn’t just recognize cultural contributions – it specifically celebrates religious institutions and clergy by name. It mentions Masjid As-Sabur mosque, Masjid Ibrahim mosque, and Imam Fateen Seifullah by title and religious role.
This crosses the line from cultural recognition into government endorsement of religion. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause exists for a reason. The government shouldn’t be in the business of promoting specific mosques, churches, temples, or religious leaders through official proclamations.
The bill itself acknowledges this is about religion, not just culture. It discusses “religious discrimination” and calls for policies to address Muslim Americans’ religious impacts on society. That’s the government explicitly dealing with religious matters, not cultural ones.
Conservative constitutionalists should be concerned. If Nevada can create heritage months celebrating imams and mosques, what stops future legislatures from declaring Baptist Heritage Month, celebrating specific pastors? Or Catholic Heritage Month, highlighting particular churches?
The precedent opens doors that the founders meant to keep closed.
Looking Ahead
If AB278 becomes law, expect more groups to seek similar recognition. The precedent gets set, and saying no becomes harder. Government “cultural” calendar-keeping will expand, not shrink.
This trend isn’t unique to Nevada. States across the country face similar pressures. The question is whether Nevada will lead by limiting government scope or follow the crowd toward more bureaucratic cultural management.
What You Can Do
Governor Lombardo still has time to veto AB278. If you believe government should focus on core functions rather than cultural proclamations, make your voice heard. Visit gov.nv.gov/forms/share/ and submit your input. You’ll need to reference the bill number (AB278), state your position, and provide contact information.
The message is simple: government works best when it sticks to essential functions. Cultural celebration belongs in communities, not state proclamations.
This isn’t about any particular group. It’s about keeping the government focused on what matters most – protecting rights, not picking favorites for special months.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
