Source: Religious Liberties Lawyers Network

On November 3, 2001 the Religious Liberties Lawyers Network issued a press release saying it "pledges to monitor the impact the recently enacted USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. Law No. 107-56) has on the rights of minority religious." The Religious Liberties Lawyers Network is "a national organization of Wiccan, Pagan and civil liberties attorneys, paralegals and law students... The RLLN provides legal counseling and support in cases of religious discrimination, educational information on First Amendment rights, and a highly...

Source: CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/11/01/rec.attacks.sikhs.ap/index.html

On November 1, 2001, CNN.com reported that "followers of the Sikh faith say they have been unfairly singled out for elaborate security checks at airports, sometimes being forced to remove their turbans, an integral part of their religious identity."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On October 31, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that officials in the town of Ringgold, GA "have hung the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and an empty frame in City Hall...fulfilling a unanimous City Council vote last month...The ACLU has submitted its own document --- a letter threatening a lawsuit...The empty frame, City Councilman Bill McMillon has said, is 'for those who believe in nothing. If they don't believe in [the other two], they can go stand in front of it and believe anything...

Source: The Boston Globe

On October 30, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that the Supreme Court "gave those who think public school children should be free to pray in classrooms a clear blueprint on how to promote that idea without violating the Constitution ...Without dissent, the court turned aside a constitutional challenge to a year-old Virginia law that requires every public school to start each day with 'one minute of silence' and specifies that students may use it, if they wish, to pray." The article also noted that "the court's action came as efforts...

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3609-2001Oct28.html

On October 29, 2001 The Washington Post published an editorial by William Raspberry entitled "'Freak Out' in Force." The article described incidents of passenger profiling, and the fears of airline travelers.

Source: The Appeal-Democrat

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/102801/102801Yuba-Sutter.shtml

On October 28, 2001 The Appeal-Democrat reported, "Yuba-Sutter Sikhs honor terrorist victims: Make donation to families of police and firefighters killed in Sept. 11 attacks." The article noted that "Members of the Sri Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Yuba City donated about $16,000 Saturday to help families of police officers and firefighters killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist...

Source: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On October 28, 2001, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that think tank panelists addressed the question: "Why do scapegoats emerge in a national crisis?" The panel included speakers from a variety of backgrounds and religious traditions.

Source: The Los Angeles Times

On October 27, 2001, The Los Angeles Times reported on a Buddhist benefit concert for the families of terror attack victims. The 2001 North American Buddhist Music Festival, held in Pasedena, "will feature 80 monks and nuns from the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir and the Taipei Municipal Chinese Classical Orchestra." Proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Red Cross. The web address of the local branch temple of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order is

Source: The Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/cgi-bin/story.pl/metro/06425351.htm

On October 26, 2001, The Providence Journal reported, "Sikh won't be prosecuted." The article noted that Mayor Vincent A. Cianci "said prosecuting Singh would have sent the wrong message -- that Providence was a place of intolerance -- when in actuality 'Roger Williams founded this city as a bastion for freedom of religion.'" Sher Singh later held a press conference to thank the...

Source: The Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/cgi-bin/story.pl/news/06421463.htm

On October 26, 2001, The Providence Journal reported that "the city will not prosecute a Sikh man who was arrested at the Providence Amtrak station...for carrying his religious dagger. Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. made the announcement at a news conference." In a letter sent earlier in the week, "Atty. Gen. Sheldon Whitehouse 'did make it clear that if the case were to reach this...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On October 25, 2001, The Milwakee Journal Sentinel featured an editorial by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald. The editorial discusses statements by "Mona Charen, a nationally syndicated, politically conservative columnist, [who] wrote a piece in which she argued that, while we mustn't 'persecute, insult or harass Arabs and Muslims within our borders,' we should kick them out." Pitts comments that "it's an idea so absurd in its xenophobia you can hardly take it seriously. Then you realize it's so absurd you can't...

Source: Portsmouth Herald

http://www.seacoastonline.com/2001news/10_25living_a.htm

On October 25, 2001 the Portsmouth Herald published an article detailing the practices and beliefs of the Quaker community of West Epping, New Hampshire. The article also reported the community's pacifist response to the terrorism and violence of September 11, 2001.

Source: The New York Times

On October 25, 2001 The New York Times featured the article "A Daughter of Islam, and an Enemy of Terror" about the efforts of Aasma Khan, co-founder of Muslims Against Terrorism. "The Sunday after the tragedy, she and 10 colleagues formed a Web site and syncronized their mission: education. They developed a curriculum, sent speakers to schools in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, and made a presentation at a Columbia University workshop attended by 400 directors of after-school programs. 'The best way to stop the cycle of hate is...

Source: The Hartford Courant

On October 24, 2001, The Hartford Courant reported that "the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is expected to decide soon whether the state police ban on beards violates a Muslim state trooper's religious freedom, a contention the state police union does not support. Ahmed Abdul-Kaliq, 40, of Hamden, filed the complaint two years ago, but after a recent hearing, the commission is reportedly close to a decision, state police say."

Source: No source given.

For more information on grassroots efforts to offer solidarity with Muslim women, please see the Scarves for Solidarity website.