by The Justice William J. Murray Jr. Unity Bar Section

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, recognizing and honoring the diversity surrounding us all; Autism Acceptance Month, raising awareness about and acceptance of the developmental disability that impacts an individual’s experience of the world around them; Deaf History Month, recognizing key events in deaf history including the founding of Gallaudet University and the American School for the Deaf; and National Arab American Heritage Month, celebrating the Arab American heritage and culture and paying tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, created to raise awareness around the globe. April 5 is Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night of the year for Muslims, traditionally celebrated on the twenty-seventh day of Ramadan; it is known as the Night of Power and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. April 9 is Chaitra Navaratri, a nine-day festival which starts on the first day of Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. April 9 to 10 (sundown to sundown) is Eid al-Fitr, the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, marking the end of Ramadan; many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutuba (sermon), and give Zakat al-Fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr. April 12 is The Day of Silence during which students take a daylong vow of silence to protest the actual silencing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students and their straight allies due to bias and harassment. April 13 is Vaisakhi (or Baisakhi), the celebration of the founding of the Sikh community as the Khalsa (community of the initiated) and the birth of the Khalsa. April 17 is Ram Navami, a Hindu day of worship and celebration of the seventh avatar of Vishnu (Lord Rama); on this day, devotees typically wear red and place extravagant flowers on the shrine of the god.

April 21 is Mahavir Jayanti, a holiday celebrated by the Jains commemorating the birth of Lord Mahavira; it is one of the most important religious festivals for Jains. April 21 to May 2 is The Festival of Ridvan, a holiday celebrated by those of the Bahá’í faith commemorating the twelve days when Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder, resided in a garden called Ridvan (paradise) and publicly proclaimed his mission as God’s messenger for this age. April 22 is Earth Day promoting world peace and sustainability of the planet; events are held globally in support of environmental protection of the Earth. April 22 to April 30 is Passover, an eight-day Jewish holiday in commemoration of the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. April 23 is St. George’s Day, the feast day of St. George celebrated by various Christian churches. April 24 is Armenian Martyrs’ Day (or Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day) recognizing the genocide of approximately 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 in Turkey. April 27 is Lazarus Saturday, a day celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy to commemorate the raising from the dead of Lazarus of Bethany.