Mayor Levar M. Stoney, shown Monday at City Hall, shows his proclamation declaring July as Muslim American Heritage Month in Richmond while members of the area’s Islamic community applaud what representatives described as a “tremendous honor.” Richmond is the first city in the state and one of the few in the nation to proclaim the month in recognition of Muslims and their contributions. Among those who joined the mayor is Richmond state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, immediate left of Mayor Stoney. Sen. Hashmi is the first Muslim member of the Virginia General Assembly’s upper chamber.
