Source: Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sikh02.html

On June 2, 2002 the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the Sikh-American Community of Chicago parade to mark the festival of Vaisakhi. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was in attendance. The event "had special significance because of the rumbles of possible war between India and Pakistan. The Sikhs' home state in India, Punjab, is on the border."

Source: The New York Times

On June 1, 2002 The New York Times featured the article "The Distant Drums of War; In Queens, Indians and Pakistanis Live in Harmony" about the immigrant South Asian community in Queens, NY. "More than 200,000 Pakistani and Indian immigrants live in New York City, according to the latest census figures. And if the everyday rhythm of life on 74th Street, in the commercial center of the city's growing South Asian population, tells the tale of coexistence, theirs is a peaceful one... [But] there is worry, if not division, on 74th...

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzbank312726572may31.story?coll=ny-business-headlines

On May 31, 2002 Newsday reported that "a Sikh businessman... has filed suit against Fleet National Bank, charging it denied him the opportunity to open a $250,000 certificate of deposit at a Fleet branch because of his appearance... 'My civil rights were violated,' said Inderjeet...

Source: Sacramento Bee

http://www.eeoc.gov

On May 27, 2002 the Sacramento Bee reported that "the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is moving to stem the rise of workplace discrimination against Muslims, Arabs, South Asians and Sikhs.

The EEOC has instituted a new data base code... [to] track the number of charges received by members of these groups who believe they are experiencing what the agency calls 'backlash discrimination' as a result of the events of Sept. 11... As...

Source: No source given.

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2002/May/02_crt_314.htm

On May 24, 2002 The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced "the publication of the Federal Protections Against National Origin Discrimination brochure in Farsi, Hindi, and Punjabi.... The Division's National Origin Working Group created the brochure to assist individuals in identifying discrimination and bias covered by the laws enforced by the Division. The brochure provides...

Source: Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago press release

http://www.ciogc.org/pages/Media/480/pageDetailPB.html

On May 22, 2002 a Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago press release reported, "In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, Supt. Terry G. Hillard and other top Chicago Police officials began meeting with leaders of Chicago-area Sikh, Muslim, Orthodox Greek and Middle Eastern community groups who voiced concerns about racial...

Source: The Manlius Pebble Hill School

On May 16, 2002 The Manlius Pebble Hill School in Dewitt, NY issued a press release: the school's "Student Council organized a fundraiser to help off set the cost of rebuilding the Gobind Sadan Center. The Sikh center was a victim of arson, and in need of total repair. The Student Council raised nearly $1,100 by sponsoring a dress down day in exchange for a small donation to help rebuild the center... Ralph Singh, of Gobind Sadan USA... said, 'We at Gobind Sadan USA are extremely thankful to students and the entire...

Source: Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/chi-0205150053may15.story

On May 15, 2002, the Chicago Tribune reported that "the number of workplace bias complaints by Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern and South Asian employees is increasing rapidly... The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has received 488 complaints since Sept. 11. Between...

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 10, 2002, The Columbus Dispatch reported "Group Unites Eight Faiths for Mutual Enlightenment." It reported on the efforts of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio: "Members of the 17-year-old association think that the community's religious tolerance, though a good start, isn't enough. 'We need to move beyond that to understanding and respect,' said Tarunjit Butalia, a spokesman for the association and representative of the Sikh community." The article noted that "The association also benefits from having been...

Source: Yahoo News

On May 3, 2002, The Associated Press reported "Teen Sentenced for Burning a Temple." The article noted "A teen-ager was sentenced to three to nine years in prison Friday for burning down a Sikh temple in anger over the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Joshua Centrone, 18, is the second of four teen-agers to plead guilty in connection with the Nov. 18 fire at the Gobind Sadan USA Temple in Palermo, 30 miles north of Syracuse. ... Numerous hate crimes have been committed against Sikhs since Sept. 11. Sikhs have been mistaken for Arabs or Muslims...

Source: The Daily News

On April 29, 2002, The Daily News featured the article "Sikhism Demystified: Harassment based on ignorance, crusader says." The article reported on Swaranjit Singh's efforts to educate about the Sikh religion "in the hope that knowledge will cut down on the threats and harassment Sikhs have suffered since Sept. 11. Last week, Singh's group, the Sikhism Promotion Mission, joined with the Immigrant Community Council to give Brooklyn prosecutors a peek into the Sikh religion. District Attorney Charles Hynes said such meetings were even...

Source: The Post-Standard

http://www.syracuse.com/news/syrnewspapers/index.ssf?/newsstories/20020422_cffilm.html

On April 22, 2002, The Post-Standard reported that filmmaker Richard Breyer and screenwriter David Coryell, both professors at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications "are working together to document the aftermath of the Nov. 18 arson at Gobind Sadan USA, a Sikh temple in Palermo, [NY]... Ralph...

Source: Mercury News

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/3114529.htm

On April 22, 2002, the Mercury News reported that "in an unprecedented partnership, Santa Clara County [CA] and San Jose City College are teaching immigrants how to maneuver through the political system and build strong community networks... In doing so, the county hopes to groom a new generation of...

Source: Newsday

On April 15, 2002, Newsday reported that "about 1,200 people... packed the [Plainville, NY Sikh] temple Saturday night to begin celebrating 'Vaisakhi'... Surender Singh Dhall, a founder of the Sikh temple, or gurdwara, in Plainview... and several hundred others returned [the next] morning for more prayers and hymns... Most of Long Island's Sikh community hails originally from Punjab, India. When the Plainview temple opened in 1988, about 100 families worshiped there regularly, Dhall said. Now about 400 families do, and a second Sikh...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 15, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported on the Vaisakhi celebration in Los Angeles, CA that featured a "parade of thousands of Sikhs celebrating the founding of their religion with a day of unity and prayer... at the Los Angeles Convention Center." The report also noted that because of some in America confusing turbaned Sikhs with followers of the terrorist Osama bin Laden, many Sikhs "marching in the parade carried American flags... The Sikh religion has about 500,000 followers in North America."