Source: The Tampa Tribune

On March 29, 2003 The Tampa Tribune reported that "charitable giving is a requirement of the Islamic faith... But with America at war in Iraq and tension escalating worldwide for Muslims, that's an element of the religion rarely portrayed... On Sunday, for the seventh year, about 1,000 Muslims will fulfill their spiritual obligation and provide free food, clothing, toys and medical assistance to the needy at a downtown park. They hope the event will create better community relations and bolster an image tarnished by fundamentalists...

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/29/nyregion/29MAYO.html

On March 29, 2003 The New York Times reported that "mayor Michael R. Bloomberg prayed and pleaded yesterday with dozens of Muslim worshipers in Queens, urging them not to view the city's fight against terrorism and the nation's war with Iraq as anti-Islamic... Bringing what he called a message of peace, a sliver of which he tried to deliver in Arabic, Mr. Bloomberg set out to remind the...

Source: The Daily Oklahoman

On March 29, 2003 The Daily Oklahoman reported that "When Muslim John Graff watches television news coverage of the war in Iraq, he admits to having mixed emotions... There is a sense of distaste resulting from the harmful things Saddam Hussein and his regime have done to the Iraqi people. Yet, Graff said there is the hesitancy to support the American military going in 'full force' to stop the Iraqi leader, because the Iraqis in the middle are 'our brothers and sisters...' Unitarian clergyman Mark Christian said he understands...

Source: Reuters

Source: The Associated Press

Source: Arizona Republic

On March 28, 2003 the Arizona Republic reported that "explosives were hurled into the back yard of an Iraqi-American family in Phoenix on Wednesday, the same day a Muslim advocacy group called on the governor to take action to prevent hate crimes... Four 'dry ice explosives' were thrown at Basil Sayad's home shortly before 5 p.m., Phoenix police Sgt. Randy Force said. The devices, concoctions of dry ice mixed with water in a bottle, did not injure the Sayads and their two teenage children. Force said that there was minor property...

Source: Muslim Public Affairs Council News

On March 28, 2003 Muslim Public Affairs Council News reported that "on Saturday, March 15, 2003, MPAC Advisor Dr. Metwalli B. Amer gave an invocation at the State of California Democratic Convention at the Sacramento Convention Center... Dr. Amer is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM), the President of the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations, and a Professor Emeritus at the California State University, Sacramento... [He stated,] one...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On March 27, 2003 The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "people say there is a peace that comes with understanding. Not in agreeing with each other. But in understanding each other... Maybe that's why Teresita Boggess, watching Muslims pray in their Clairemont mosque, decided to follow along with them... 'I found it just a different form of prayer,' said the 17-year- old Christian. "I kind of stepped into their shoes. I liked that...' Until this year, she didn't know young people outside her faith. 'I've always...

Source: The Tri-Valley Herald

http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86~10669~1274448,00.html

On March 27, 2003 The Tri-Valley Herald reported that "in an attempt to curb backlash against Arabs and South Asians as America's war with Iraq continues, police and city leaders issued a joint statement Wednesday saying they will not tolerate hate crimes... Police chiefs from Fremont, Union City and Newark [CA] said all crimes committed against...

Source: The Washington Post

On March 27, 2003 The Washington Post reported that "Friday prayer services at the Prince George's Muslim Association Community Center in Lanham [MD] have always been followed by a series of cheerful public announcements -- the start of a new Arabic class, an upcoming feast to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan, another sale at a local halal grocery of items required by Islamic dietary laws... But recently the list is just as likely to include a more serious type of event -- the latest seminar on how to stand up for...

Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen

http://www.press-citizen.com/news/032703camp.htm

On March 27, 2003 the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported that "the Corps' district engineer... William J. Bayles... will decide on whether to grant a lease to the Muslim Youth Camps of America, or MYCA. Bayles is reviewing 107 public comments regarding an environmental assessment of the potential campsite that found no significant impact... Local officials, residents and citizens nationwide have...

Source: Chicago Tribune

On March 27, 2003 the Chicago Tribune reported that "two teenagers were charged Monday with using an aluminum baseball bat to damage a window of a Villa Park mosque earlier this month, an act authorities are calling a hate crime... Villa Park police said the youths--a 15-year-old from Villa Park and a 16-year-old from Lombard--are charged in juvenile petitions with a hate crime and criminal damage to property at a place of worship. A third juvenile from Lombard was not charged... If convicted, a juvenile defendant faces penalties...

Source: Star-Ledger

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1048750335198020.xml?sta

On March 27, 2003 the Star-Ledger reported that "Born in the USA shows [Dina] Abulmagd, a 26-year-old Teaneck [NJ] resident, instructing students in her class by day and interacting socially with family and friends in the evening... The intent of the documentary, according to filmmaker Ahmed Solimon, is to portray the teacher as being no different...

Source: Indy Star

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/6/031758-3516-093.html

On March 26, 2003 the Indy Star reported that "a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil rights group today called on federal authorities to aid the investigation of a restaurant fire in Franklin Township that left a Muslim businessman with burns over 60 percent of his body... The Council on American-Islamic Relations made the announcement despite the fact that investigators aren't...

Source: Springfield News

http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/03/26/local/news2.txt

On March 26, 2003 the Springfield News reported that "without supporting or opposing the U.S.-led war with Iraq, local law enforcement and community leaders gathered Tuesday in Springfield to denounce acts of hate against Arab and Muslim Americans... City, county, state and federal officials gathered at City Hall to warn potential trouble-makers they will face...