Civic

Green and the Jewish Federation Work for Literacy

June 1, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On June 1, 2000, Los Angeles Times, reported that Dodger outfielder Shawn Green serves as the official spokesperson for Koreh L.A., a literacy program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Koreh L.A. pairs young readers with community volunteers. Green stated, "I wanted to work with kids and there is no better cause."

Racial Harmony in LA

May 28, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 28, 2000, the Los Angeles Times ran an article about inter-racial cooperation in Los Angeles. When many inner-city neighborhoods celebrated Cinco de Mayo festivities,"it was black-run organizations that, as part of their mission of community service, mounted many of the the Cinco de Mayo celebrations. From churces and hospitals, to service and civil-rights groups, a network of African American organizations is quietly tending the needs of mostly poor Latino newcomers who have settled in formerely black neighborhoods."

Islam Still Demonized by the West

May 27, 2000

Source: The Times (London)

On May 27, 2000 The Times (London) published an article entitled " The West is still demonising Islam." Author Karen Armstrong contends that "This is an age when people are beginning to discover the richness of other religious traditions. Without abandoning their own faith, some are turning for nourishment to more than one religion...But one religion seems excluded from this circle of goodwill. For nearly a thousand years, the Western world has cultivated a distorted vision of Islam which bears little relation to the truth but...

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Mosque Hosts First Blood Drive

May 26, 2000

Source: The Detroit News

On May 26, 2000, The Detroit News published an article about a blood drive being held at a local Mosque. According to the Red Cross, it is the first blood drive in America to be hosted by an Islamic institution. See "Wayne Briefs" for the full story.

Palos Heights, Chicago: Controversy over Sale of Church to Muslims

May 24, 2000

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On May 24, 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "Plans to open a mosque in Palos Heights have upset residents and prompted some City Council members to consider derailing the plan by condemning the property the mosque wants to purchase." The Al Salam Mosque Foundation wanted to buy "the Reformed Church of Palos Heights' building." Residents say they fear increased traffic and would like to use the building for a new recreation center. "But a less vocal group in the south suburb also has expressed fears about the people...

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Interfaith Group Unites to Combat Domestic Violence

May 16, 2000

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 16, 2000, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff,...senior rabbi at Temple Israel on the Far East Side, joined Columbus Bishop James A. Griffin and the Rev. Jesse Wood, pastor of Love Zion Baptist Church, to announce the formation of an interfaith council to battle family violence." The group is calling for religious leaders to "give moral leadership in shaping the community's response to such abuse" and for religious communities to offer support to survivors of domestic violence, breaking the trend...

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Jewish Council Honors Muslim Leader in St. Louis, Missouri

May 10, 2000

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On May 10, 2000, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that imam Waheed Rana was awarded the Norman A. Stack award by the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis for his work building bridges between the Muslim and Jewish communities. Rana is a founder of the Islamic Center in St. Louis and serves as the imam at the Daar-ul-Islam Masjid in St. Louis. Rana, accepting the award, stated: "We need each other...We are all the children of Abraham."

Ohio Motto Declared Unconstitutional

April 27, 2000

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On April 27, 2000, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "pinions were plentiful yesterday in the aftermath of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that Ohio's 41-year-old state motto -- 'With God, all things are possible' -- is unconstitutional." Some wonder why the US national motto "In God We Trust" has been allowed while this motto is considered unconstitutional; others argue that the national motto is more vague than Ohio's and thus shows less of a bias toward Christianity specifically. Americans United for...

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Muslim Advocacy Efforts

April 22, 2000

Source: The Denver Rocky Mountain News

On April 22, 2000, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that Colorado Arabs and Muslims are claiming that the new Hollywood film, 'Rules of Engagement', is racist for its portrayal of the people of Yemen. Husni S. Sayed, who was among dozens of demonstrators outside the Carmike 10 Theatre in Colorado, stated: "We are tired of being bashed, and we're not going to take it anymore...This movie...portrays all people of Yemen as liars and cheaters. It basically portrayed Yemen as fertile ground for breeding terrorists,...

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Muslim Advocacy Efforts

April 21, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 21, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that it is removing controversial advertisements for the newspaper depicting bikini-clad women and chador-covered Islamic women. James Helin, the chief marketing officer for the Los Angeles Times, said the advertisements were being removed because they "have had their life": "People have seen it and had very strong reactions to it. We're not going to get much more mileage from it." The advertisements were protested by Muslim and feminist organizations and over 200 people on the Los...

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Protests by Muslims and Women Over Ad Campaign in Los Angeles Times

April 15, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 15, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Feminist Majority Foundation and the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have demanded that the Los Angeles Times pull parts of an advertising campaign that the groups claim are offensive. A $15-million advertising campaign in print and on television by the Los Angeles Times, tied with the slogan "Connecting Us to The Times," contains juxtaposed images of Southern California life with scenes representing Muslim societies in some of their ads....

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