Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3508677.stm

On February 21, 2004 the BBC News reported, "British Sikhs have descended on the French embassy in London to protest against a planned ban on religious clothing in schools. Police estimate 800 people attended the demonstration in Knightsbridge to show solidarity with French Sikhs. Labour's John McDonnell, Bob Ainsworth, and Fiona MacTaggart joined protesters including Sikh World War II veterans. One organiser...

Source: New York Newsday

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/queens/nyc-nyxmas193677544feb19,0,6404263.story?coll=nyc-topheadlines-queens

On February 20, 2004 New York Newsday reported, "A federal judge yesterday backed the city's Department of Education, ruling that the displaying of the Nativity scene, unlike Christmas trees and menorahs, is not secular and has no place in classrooms. Judge Charles Sifton in...

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/19/MNGTF53E1P25.DTL

On February 20, 2004 The San Francisco Chronicle reported, "City Hall workers are not the only officiants keeping busy these days with same-sex marriages. The Rev. Karen Oliveto, pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church in San Francisco, has provided God's blessing to eight couples who were issued civil marriage licenses since the...

Source: The Michigan Daily

http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4035bc427e646

On February 20, 2004 The Michigan Daily reported, "Speaking last night at the Michigan Union to more than 100 Ann Arbor residents and students, Warith Deen Mohammed said the identity of skin color has to end. He called on members of the Muslim community to reclaim their identity, not only as Muslims or as blacks, but also to think themselves as human beings above all...

Source: US Newswire

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=140-02192004

On February 19, 2004 US Newswire reported, "Today, the nation's largest interfaith organization released results of The Interfaith Alliance/Zogby International Poll, which reaffirmed that Americans want to maintain the historical separation between the institutions of religion and government. By an overwhelming margin, consistent across regional, religious, and ethnic sub- groups...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/feb04/208927.asp

On February 19, 2004 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an interview with Saukville resident Sarrah Abulughod, who turned 18 last Friday, and who has been named a Girl Scout Gold Award Young Woman of Distinction, one of 10 in the nation. "Abulughod was recognized for creating and organizing a three-day forum in November 2002 called 'Confidence in Knowledge' at the Islamic...

Source: The Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20040219_church19.23d799.html

On February 19, 2004 The Providence Journal published an article in response to proposed legislation by Governor Carcieri that many experts believe would limit freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendent. The article notes, "Freedom of religion -- one of the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment -- is a valuable right for all Americans but...

Source: American Civil Liberties Union

http://www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?ID=14995&c=38

On February 18, 2004 American Civil Liberties Union reported, "Saying that the city of Plattsmouth 'abandoned its duty to religious neutrality and acted with the intent of promoting a particular point of view in religious matters,' a federal appeals court today ruled that the town’s Ten Commandments monument violates the religious...

Source: The Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/living/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/living/1077109020127790.xml

On February 18, 2004 The Oregonian reported, "Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, a statewide partnership of 17 Christian denominations -- Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic -- is today celebrating 30 years of talking and working together... In the 21st century, in a Western state that shares a reputation for being largely '...

Source: The Palladium Times

http://www.pall-times.com/articles/2004/02/11/news/news1.txt

On February 16, 2004 the reported, "On Nov. 18, 2001, several Oswego County teenagers set fire to a Sikh temple in Palermo because they mistook the name of the particular Sikh denomination, Gobind Sadan, for 'Go Bin Laden.' Several of the youth involved were from the Mexico Central School District, and feeling partly responsible for their actions, Mexico board of...

Source: The First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=12671

On February 15, 2004 The First Amendment Center published an editorial by Charles Haynes responding to the French ban on religious symbols in the public schools. "The head-scarf issue crystallizes the European-American divide (Belgium recently followed the French lead and moved to ban head scarves in schools; Germans are debating the issue). Most Europeans I...

Source: Americans United for Separation of Church and State

http://www.au.org/press/pr040213.htm

On February 14, 2004 Americans United for Separation of Church and State reported that "Americans United and allied civil liberties groups filed a friend-of-the-court brief Feb. 13 insisting that the U.S. Constitution bars public school officials from leading students in the Pledge of Allegiance because addition of the words 'under God' has turned the patriotic ritual into an affirmation...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3483409.stm

On February 13, 2004 the BBC News reported, "The French Government says it will find a 'solution' for Sikhs who are angry at a proposed ban on turbans and other religious symbols in state schools. Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin made his remarks in India, where he has faced opposition over the issue. 'I am sure we are going to find a solution that will be satisfactory for the Sikh community in...

Source: The Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_569420,00050001.htm

On February 12, 2004 The Hindustan Times reported, "After much controversy, a Hindu couple in the US have been permitted to fly a religious flag in front of their home as long as it is kept hidden behind some foliage. Chola and Leila Persaud, residents of Rivermill Development in Lake Worth, Florida, have been allowed to fly the flag by the homeowners' association there. The...

Source: The Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/4450_00.htm

On February 12, 2004 The Anti-Defamation League reported that "American Airlines has assured the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that it is conducting a 'thorough investigation' into allegations that one of its pilots encouraged Christian passengers on a New York/JFK-bound flight from Los Angeles to identify themselves and to use the flight time as an opportunity to engage in conversation about...