Source: U.S. Department of Justice

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/legalinfo/discrimupdate.htm

The U.S. Department of Justice maintains a web page with an "Update on Civil Rights Division Activities," regarding the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes in the aftermath of September 11.

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/legalinfo/discrimupdate.htm

Source: The San Jose Mercury News

http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/guru30.htm

On November 30, 2001, The San Jose Mercury News reported "Sikhs in Bay Area and worldwide celebrate founder's birthday." It noted that, "In the Bay Area, birthday celebrations for Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh guru, born in 1469, will occur at gurdwaras, or temples, in Fremont, El Sobrante, Hayward and San Jose ... At many of the gurdwaras, including the one in Fremont...

Source: The Times-Picayune

On November 30, 2001, The Times-Picayune featured the article "Giving thanks to the Sikhs." It noted, "St. Philip Community Center wishes to thank the members of the Sikh community of New Orleans ... for their generous contribution of food baskets which provided Thanksgiving meals to many families in need. The Sikh community of New Orleans has been supporting this cause for the past 13 years." The St. Philip Community Center operates under the auspices of the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On November 29, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "The Sikh Foundation of San Diego hopes to begin work on a golden-domed temple and multipurpose building by March now that its plans have been approved by the City Council here." The article continued, "When finished, the temple will have three domes topped with spires that could be more than 35 feet high. The temple, or gurdwara, also will have metal grillwork painted in copper and bronze colors."

Source: The Pluralism Project

http://www.pluralism.org/about/morning_prayers.php

On November 28, 2001, Dr. Diana Eck's Morning Prayers at Memorial Church of Harvard University included her reflections on the arson at Gobind Sadan: "After the arson attack, Ralph [Singh] described the outpouring of support and love. 'Complete strangers were offering money to help rebuild the shrine, saying this is not the America they stood for, veterans saying this is not the America they fought...

Source: Asiaweek

http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/life/0,8782,185618,00.html

The November 30, 2001 edition of Asiaweek magazine featured the story "If Looks Could Kill" about the experiences of Sikh entrepreneur Chirinjeev Kathuria with harassment on the streets, looks of fear on airplanes, and racial profiling. "'The verbal abuse I can handle,' he says...But Kathuria sees a darker possibility: that a virulent new prejudice against Sikhs,...

Source: Gobind Sadan USA

http://www.gobindsadan.org/gsusa/messagetoamerica.shtml

On November 27, 2001, Baba Varsa Singh ("Babaji"), founder of Gobind Sadan, offered a "Message to America" about the suspected arson. "'Perhaps this is God's way of giving us the opportunity of bringing people of all faiths together to share in rebuilding this sacred house of God and making it an even more beautiful place.'" He offered thanks and cited the ways in which the community has...

Source: The Oswego Palladium-Times

On November 27, 2001, The Oswego Palladium-Times reported that "a substantial reward is expected to be offered for information relating to a fire which struck a Sikh house of worship Nov. 18." The article continued, "They are also looking at the fire in the former farmhouse as a possible hate crime, a federal offense...Investigators say the fire in Palermo is suspicious because it follows two other apparent acts of vandalism at the site." The article quoted Ralph Singh, co-founder of Gobind Sadan USA: "'The irony of this...

Source: Gobind Sadan USA

http://www.gobindsadan.org/gsusa/

Photographs of the damage to the Gobind Sadan building can be viewed at the center's website: http://www.gobindsadan.org/gsusa/fire/

Source: The Seattle Times

On November 25, 2001, The Seattle Times featured the story "Sikhs gather to mark founder's birthday." It reported, "The occasion calls for feasting and for reflecting on Guru Nanak's message of peace and equality. The message is especially relevant this year, as Sikhs, locally and nationally, have been harassed since Sept. 11, likely by people who mistook the turbans and long beards worn by Sikh men" as those of turban-clad followers of Osama Bin Laden. The article noted that there are some 15,000 Sikhs in Washington state.

Source: The Washington Post

On November 24, 2001, The Washington Post reported that "the events of Sept. 11 prompted an unprecedented number of interfaith services nationwide, featuring leaders of different religions praying for peace and remembering the more than 4,100 terrorist attack victims. But some religious leaders have questioned the appropriateness of their clergy participating in such gatherings...'The basic question is: Does my participation enhance my witness of Jesus Christ or obscure it?' said the Rev. Karl K. Schmidt, pastor of Bethany...

Source: The Valley News

http://www.valleynewsonline.com/news/2001/1124/Front_Page/017.html

On November 24, 2001, The Valley News reported, "Sikh worship house fire evidence sent to federal lab in Maryland." The article noted, "Evidence from the fire that destroyed a Sikh house of worship in the Town of Palermo may take up to two weeks to analyze, according to local and federal law-enforcement officials." Co-founder Ralph Singh was quoted as saying, "'When...

Source: The Boston Globe

On November 22, 2001, The Boston Globe reported, "Workplace bias claims jump after September 11." The article noted, "The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has received 123 complaints of workplace bias nationwide against Muslims between Sept. 11 and Nov. 20, up from 47 for the same period last year. Alarmed by the increase, the EEOC joined this week with the US Justice and Labor Departments in urging employers to promote tolerance on the job." Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, now a professor at Brandeis University was...

Source: The Post-Standard

On November 19, 2001 The Post-Standard reported, "Sikh Temple Burns in Palermo." It noted, "A suspicious fire early Sunday extensively damaged Gobind Sadan, USA, an interfaith religious center in Palermo where many of Central New York's Sikhs worship...The fire damaged the main building of Gobind Sadan, USA, an Interfaith Retreat and Meditation Center, where people from all religions interact and offer spiritual counseling." Despite extensive damage to the building, the Guru Granth Sahib (the religious scripture of the Sikhs) was...

Source: EEOC

http://www.eeoc.gov/press/11-19-01-js.html

On November 19, 2001, the EEOC, the Department of Justice and the Department of Labor issued the "Joint Statement Against Employment Discrimination in the Aftermath of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks." It read, in part: "Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, we have seen compassion and respect for people of all faiths, races, and national and ethnic origins in workplaces throughout our country. One month after the attacks,...