A Detroit suburb with a history as a Polish enclave is making history of a different kind.
After elections on Tuesday, Hamtramck, Michigan, is set to become what is likely the first municipality in the country where every elected governing official is of the Muslim faith.
“Religion is not inside the City Hall,” one of them said. “It’s outside in the mosque and temple and the church.”
Ominous, that!
But wait – there seems to be one governing Pole left:
Amanda Jaczkowski, who was elected last week, said the city’s government will serve all the people. “We will all take an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States, and that includes the concept of separation of church and state. I believe strongly in that separation, and although I will bring the Islamic values of honesty and integrity to the table, the policies that I promote and affirm will be what is best for all people of Hamtramck,” she said.
Islamic values of honesty and integrity?
That’s what she said.
So all is sweetness and light between the Christian Poles and the Muslims?
Not quite.
Former mayor Karen Majewski lost her bid for a fifth term. She had been willing to work with the new leadership of the city though she differed from them over LGBTQ issues: she supported flying the LGBTQ flag outside City Hall, they did not.