Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On November 25, 2002 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "a crowd of white, black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist Milwaukeeans joined forces for a symbolic cleansing of the federal courthouse steps where white supremacists had rallied the day before. The Sunday ceremony followed a Saturday rally by about 50 members of the Ku Klux Klan, the National Socialist Movement and the World Church of the Creator, whose message of white separatism was jeered by hundreds of protesters...

Source: The Argus

http://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1413,83%257E1971%257E1010917,00.html

On November 24, 2002 The Argus reported that "more than 40 years ago, three Protestant churches of different denominations came together in the name of unity for a Thanksgiving service. It was a progressive step at the time, said Don Anderson, former pastor of First Christian Church, one of the churches that met in 1961. During the 1960s, more churches...

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/23/national/23BELI.html

On November 23, 2002 The New York Times reported that "Diana L. Eck, professor of comparative religion and Indian studies at Harvard University, where she is director of the Pluralism Project, has enjoyed many an interfaith Thanksgiving with Christian, Jewish and Muslim friends, 'all comfortable with prayer and thanksgiving,' she said, 'since we have had many holidays together,...

Source: The Associated Press

[fac.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17295]

On November 23, 2002 The Associated Press reported that "local school officials [in Athens, Alabama] have blocked Gideons International from distributing Bibles in public schools after a parent threatened to file suit. Limestone County Superintendent Barry Carroll said a parent complained after the Christian organization held its annual Bible distribution for fifth-graders. Bob Lambert, the president of the local Gideons chapter, said the...

Source: The Washington Post

[washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28312-2002Nov22.html]

On November 23, 2002 The Washington Post reported that "the chaplain, Imam Johari Abdel-Malik, challenged the Rev. Graylan Hagler to work with him on an interfaith charity project in Washington. Abdel-Malik said he could provide food and volunteers for an effort to feed the needy. Could Hagler provide a place for them to serve the meals? This week, as a result of those discussions, Muslim volunteers cooked and served hot dinners to about...

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On November 23, 2002 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "this year a little-known anniversary of religious freedom converges with the Thanksgiving interfaith exchanges. Sunday morning in the city's West End, congregations from three neighboring churches on Union Boulevard will follow their long tradition of praying together at one of their churches. Members of the churches say the joint Thanksgiving service began when the three churches were leaders in the civil rights efforts in the city. People from Freeman's...

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1122/p02s01-ussc.html

On November 22, 2002 The Christian Science Monitor reported that "prominent Christian and Jewish leaders called this week on the auto industry and their own congregations 'to recognize that transportation choices are moral choices' because of 'the extraordinary impact they have on God's creation and God's children.' In an open letter to auto executives, and in meetings Wednesday at...

Source: The Tucson Citizen

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/11_21_02ramadan.html

On November 21, 2002 The Tucson Citizen reported that "about 100 Muslims and Methodists from St. Francis in the Foothills congregation sat together to celebrate iftar - breaking of the Ramadan fast - at the Islamic Center of Tucson... A few Jews also were on hand."

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On November 21, 2002 The San Francisco Chronicle reported that "the Marin Community Foundation has awarded more than $60,000 in grants to 14 congregations throughout the county that are actively involved in community-building efforts. A variety of religious faiths are represented, ranging from Bridge the Gap (a partnership by Sausalito Presbyterian Church and the Marin City Church of God) to the Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon and the Novato-based International Association of Sufism. A grant to St. Andrews...

Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times

On November 21, 2002 the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported on "'Breaking Bread to Break Barriers: An Understanding of World Cultures,' an education series for community leaders. The six-month luncheon series is hosted by the National Conference of Community and Justice in cooperation with the Corpus Christi [TX] Chamber of Commerce. Business and community leaders are invited to learn more about the many different cultures and religions in the Coastal Bend and about those who helped to found Corpus Christi,...

Source: The Associated Press

[fac.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17286]

On November 21, 2002 The Associated Press reported that "Pennsylvania could become the 10th state to pass a bill meant to give new protections to religious groups but criticized by opponents as giving the groups free rein to ignore many laws. The Religious Freedom Protection Act... would allow laws that burden a person's religious practice or belief to be challenged in court if the state lacks a compelling interest in passing the laws. Any law...

Source: MPAC

[mpac.org/home_article_display.aspx?ITEM=279]

On November 20, 2002 the Muslim Public Affairs Council reported that "relations between Americans and people of Muslim and Middle Eastern backgrounds have improved in some ways since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but much more needs to be done to foster understanding and peaceful co-existence among the groups, a diverse panel of cultural officials said Monday. Discussion at the Iowa City Public Library... began with panel member Shams Ghoneim of the Muslim Public...

Source: U.S. Department of State

On November 19, 2002 the U.S. Department of State reported that "Secretary of State Colin Powell hosted a Ramadan Iftaar dinner at the State Department on November 18 for American Muslim and Arab American community leaders. In his welcoming remarks, the Secretary said diversity, spirituality, and tolerance are America's greatest strengths, and extremism and violence are its greatest foes. The event was attended by a large group of Muslim community leaders from around the country, including representatives from American...

Source: The Associated Press

[fac.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17272]

On November 19, 2002 The Associated Press reported that "a federal judge ruled yesterday that a Ten Commandments monument installed in Alabama's judicial building by the state's chief justice must be removed because it violates the separation of church and state. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson said he does not believe all Ten Commandment displays in government buildings are illegal, but this one crosses the line. The judge said Chief Justice...

Source: Tolerance.org

[tolerance.org/news/article_tol.jsp?id=639]

On November 18, 2002 Tolerance.org reported that "Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has 30 days to remove a 2-ton Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of Alabama’s judicial building, a federal judge ruled today. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson wrote in his opinion that the monument violates the constitution’s ban on government promotion of religion. 'The court retains jurisdiction to impose and enforce an injunction should one become necessary,' the...