by Nayaba Arinde
NEW YORK—Always a major, well-attended event, on March 21, New York State Senator Cordell Cleare hosted her 5th Annual Eid Celebration in Harlem, New York. Several elected officials came through, joining local leaders, community sponsors, and members from the 25-plus area mosques in the Senator’s 30th District.
Senator Cleare’s 2026 Eid ul-Fitr Celebration was hosted in collaboration with Assemblyman Charles D. Fall and Assemblymember Jordan Wright, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Councilmember Yusef Salaam, City Comptroller Mark Levine, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoyman-Siegel.
The intergenerational attendees from the diverse neighborhood included families, young people, seniors, and children.
Hosted at the Children’s Aid Dunlevy Milbank Center, the program included prayer, chess, camaraderie, and community unity and ran for over six hours. There were speeches given by the elected officials, imams and religious leaders, and activists.
The entertainment included live jazz with John “Sachmo” Mannan, Muhammad Mosque No. 7 M.G.T. and G.C.C. Vanguard drill team performance, and a fashion show with traditional African garments.
The delicious dinner was provided by community partners and local restaurants. Halal dishes were among the hot meals prepared by local restaurants for the hundreds of participants.
Senator Cleare presented a visibly moved Student Eastern Regional Minister Arthur Muhammad, of the Nation of Islam’s Mosque No. 7, a proclamation for his steadfast work and years of dedication to the community.
He told The Final Call, “I was taken off guard, because the work I do on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is not for proclamations, it’s not for awards. Ultimately, our reward is with our Lord. But, to be recognized by grassroots people in our community, who you respect, is a true honor.”
The annual community event honors not only the international observation held at the conclusion of the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan, but it also unites the Muslim population with believers of many other faiths in the 30th District.
“Each year, this community event gets better and better, as the whole neighborhood unites to celebrate the Iftar with our Muslim family during this holy time,” Senator Cleare said.
“Annually, my colleagues in elected federal, state, and city offices attend and sponsor the event with many local community partners and community organizations.
I look forward to the next annual celebration as residents and many people outside of it join in the happy fellowship and uplifting energy with joy, peace, community reflection, and solidarity presentations, food. Once again, there was Harlem’s exceptional community spirit.”
Nayaba Arinde is a freelance Editor-at-Large and award-winning reporter and activist. Follow her on Instagram @NayabaArinde1