Source: St. Petersburg Times

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/31/TampaBay/Mood_cautious_at_Musl.shtml

On March 31, 2003 the St. Petersburg Times reported that "after war broke out in Iraq, organizers of... the annual Islamic Charity Festival [in Tampa, FL]... discussed postponing the festival, which local Muslims hold to offer food and clothing to mostly non-Muslim needy residents... Corporations could be counted on in past years to provide soft drinks...

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On March 31, 2003 The Baltimore Sun reported that "overcome with emotion, Kay Ballard had to pause several times during yesterday's Prayers for World Peace, an event she coordinated to bring a diverse range of spiritual leaders to talk about peace... On the 12th day of the war in Iraq, Ballard gathered spiritual leaders to deliver their individual messages of peace. A rabbi spoke about making peace an active pursuit, while an imam talked about how the word peace in Arabic is a part of daily life... Interspersed in the two-hour...

Source: Merced Sun-Star

http://www.mercedsun-star.com/news/newsview.asp?c=36183

On March 31, 2003 the Merced Sun-Star reported that "about 2,000 more Sikhs traveled from all parts of California to celebrate in the fifth annual Hola Mahala Parade, a celebration of the 301st birthday of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, or Sikh holy book... Each year, thousands dressed in bright silk come to Livingston from as far as Los Angeles and Sacramento."

Source: SMART

http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/letters/Miramax--Dysfunktional%20Family.pdf

On March 31, 2003 SMART issued a press release stating that "following weeks of conversations with publicists for Miramax and the producer of Dysfunktional Family, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh advocacy and civil rights group, has retained a law firm and placed Dysfunktional Family's producers on notice. The film scheduled...

Source: Boston Globe

On March 30, 2003 Boston Globe reported that "tens of thousands of people from across New England and beyond converged on a damp, windswept Boston Common for a massive antiwar rally yesterday, then marched through the city, saying they hoped to show the world that not all Americans support President Bush and the war in Iraq..." The protest was "organized by the Greater Boston group United for Justice with Peace..." During the protest, the pro-government group and the protesters "found some common ground: When the pro-government group...

Source: Los Angelas Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-na-veil30may30,1,5567236.story?coll=la%2Dnews%2Dreligion

On March 30, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that Sultaana LaKiana Myke Freeman, "the 35-year-old Florida mother of two and convert to Islam, has taken the state to court because it has refused to issue her a new driver's license unless she agrees to be photographed with her face revealed. For...

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cranes30mar30,1,3411647.story?coll=la%2Dhome%2Dleftrail

On March 30, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "in the mind of peace advocate Michiko Pumpian, the crane is mightier than the sword -- and, for that matter, more persuasive than protest marches... The tall, graceful bird is a symbol of peace in her native Japan, and the 48-...

Source: Daily News

On March 30, 2003 Daily News reported that "a four-day Greek festival that has been held by a Whitestone church each June for the past 25 years is getting a thumbs-down this year from the local community board... Community Board 7, which covers Whitestone along with Flushing and neighboring communities, will recommend that the city deny Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church the permits it needs to hold the fair, said district manager Marilyn Bitterman... Then, complaints from neighbors and the Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Civic Association...

Source: The Atlantic Journal-Constitution

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/sunday/news_e368a948d6fdc1d410a0.html

On March 30, 2003 The Atlantic Journal-Constitution reported that "for 90 minutes, 20 boys and girls ranging from 12 to 18 discussed the issues they face daily as Muslims in metro Atlanta schools --- from mean-spirited taunts to questions about their religion and dress. The workshop, held at the Islamic...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On March 30, 2003 the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "a certain conventional wisdom says that most American Jews support the war in Iraq because they believe it will make the world a safer place for Israel. But conversations with some of Chicago's Jewish leaders prove that wisdom is flawed... While opinions about the war in Iraq are divided within the Jewish community, concern for Israel often is a deciding factor whether the decision is in favor of the war or against it... Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin of Congregation Am Yisrael in...

Source: The New York Times

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: 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: 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...