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: Modbee

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/6453840p-7398370c.html

On March 27, 2003 the Modbee reported that "a parade in celebration of Sikh religion and culture is scheduled here Sunday... The parade will include floats from other communities and temples, as well as from Livingston, organizers said... Participants will range from children to the elderly, said Mayor Gurpal Samra, one of the organizers... He said religious music will be played, and people...

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/114153_tl126.shtml

On March 26, 2003 the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that "McDonald's has 30 days to make payments, after a Chicago judge yesterday approved a final list of 23 vegetarian, Hindu, kosher and children's organizations that will split $10 million from the global hamburger hawker... Three Seattle residents -- a Hindu, a Sikh and a non-Hindu vegetarian -- were named plaintiffs in...

Source: The Associated Press

On March 20, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "each Wednesday, four veterans of the U.S. military kneel and offer prayers for peace - using words of the faithful from all over the world - at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in the Yakima Valley... There are Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Bahai and even Zoroastrian prayers... 'We just don't think we have an exclusive voice to heaven,' said Bill Flower, 66, an Army veteran and a lifelong member of Holy Trinity... The idea came from the church's Spokane Diocese, which...

Source: Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force

http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/prepare/advisory-18Mar03.htm

On March 18, 2003 Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force issued a press release stating that "following President Bush's remarks to the nation last night about the developments in Iraq, Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) is cautioning the Sikh American community to take extra safety measures to safeguard themselves, their property and their...

Source: The Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnoneighbors.com/showcase/story/6364678p-7313029c.html

On March 17, 2003 The Fresno Bee reported that "the growth of congregations in Fresno [CA] is also coming from religions other than Christianity. The Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple on Kern Street recently bought a 7-acre parcel on Alluvial Avenue near Willow Avenue. It has been downtown for more than a century... A new Sikh temple is being built on 14 acres of...

Source: India-West

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=0cbf2dcd719ca5c28d201fce22f41f11

On March 14, 2003 India-West reported that "a new film starring standup comedian Eddie Griffin has angered Sikhs over a joke that they say is unfunny at best and offensive at worst... The Miramax film DysFunKtional Family, due for release April 4, follows the comedian through some of his live performances... In one bit...

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/5387818.htm

On March 14, 2003 The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that "alarming, perhaps extreme, precautions are being suggested informally in some Arab and South Asian communities because of rising fears of further backlash in this country in the event of a U.S. war on Iraq... Trying to straddle the line between reassurance and alarm, community leaders and officials said an...

Source: India Abroad

On March 14, 2003 India Abroad interviewed Gurpreet Singh concerning the harassment he suffered on a New York City subway train, and the Samaritans who came to his rescue. After recounting the harassment incident, Singh said, "' Then the most amazing thing happened!' Singh recalled. 'This stranger offered me a seat and told me not to worry'... the station was approaching and Singh's savior got up to get off. He first went to the drunk and told him to stay away from Singh or to move to the next car. What no one knew at that time was that...

Source: Newsday

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/columnists/ny-nysub103166025mar10,0,2511202.column

On March 10, 2003 Newsday reported that "the angry Long Island Rail Road commuter tried explaining why he wanted the bearded man with a turban off the Huntington train... the officer was Stephen Hughes, 43, a captain with 22 years on the job who now works out of the Midtown North Precinct. On this Wednesday night in a...

Source: The Providence Journal

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/5258134.htm

On March 5, 2003 The Providence Journal reported that "in the days and months since [his arrest, Sher] Singh has found that his train ride - abruptly ending in the birthplace of Roger Williams' 'lively experiment' - has taken him to a new place in his religion and his work... Singh's arrest made him a reluctant celebrity... 'If you think you have been chosen, for whatever...

Source: The Register-Guard

Source: Newsday

On March 5, 2003 Newsday printed an editorial stating that "the sheriff of Los Angeles County, for one, would happily consider Amric Singh Rathour, or other turban-wearing Sikhs, for work as a uniformed officer. But the Queens-born Rathour has always wanted to be a traffic agent for the New York Police Department, so much so that he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the NYPD yesterday to make it happen... Officials should relax the department's uniform policy to accommodate Rathour's religious expression and save taxpayers the...

Source: The Sikh Coalition

On March 4, 2003 The Sikh Coalition reported that "The Sikh Coalition and Amric Singh (Rathour) filed a federal lawsuit challenging the New York Police Department's (NYPD) "no turban" policy. Amric Singh was terminated by the NYPD in August 2001 for refusing orders to remove his turban and trim his beard, both required by his religion... A contingent of Sikh police officers from Canada and Great Britain joined Amric Singh at the press conference. The Sikh officers stressed that the turban did not impede their ability to perform...

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-nysubvr3154895mar03,0,4072261.column

On March 3, 2003 Newsday reported that "standing with five or six riders on the Long Island Rail Road some nights ago, Gurpreet Singh noticed a man staring at him. 'I felt very uncomfortable,' the 24-year-old technology consultant said. 'I'm a very friendly and social guy. I walked over and said, 'Hello.' He replied by saying, 'Where you getting off?' I said, 'Syosset...