Source: Star Tribune

On April 5, 2000, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Minnesota reported that Hesham Nasser Reda, who headed the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington, D.C., died of lung cancer at the age of 47. Reda lived in Minnesota's Twin Cities for 26 years and was the founder and first president of the American Muslim Council of Minnesota, the first such chapter in the country. Matthew Ramadan, who succeeded Reda as council president in 1998 when Reda left for the Muslim Public Affairs Council in 1998, stated: "The important thing about him...

Source: The Florida Times-Union

On March 31, 2000, The Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville, FL published an article entitled, "Man Wins Suit Against Former Employer."

Source: Sun-Sentinel

On March 29, 2000, the Sun-Sentinel of Orlando, FL published an article entitled, "Pines Mosque Wins OK."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On March 22, 2000 the Atlanta Constitution ran an article covering the capture of Al-Amin in Alabama after an extensive manhunt. The national Muslim community has expressed their concern for justice: "We are not here today to judge the guilt or innocence of any party to this tragic series of events, " Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said at a press conference in Washington, D.C. "We want to ensure that Imam Jamil receives proper legal representation."

Source: CAIR

http://www.cair-net.org/nr.asp?date=2000/03/21a

On March 21, 2000, CAIR issued a joint statement from leaders of national American Muslim organizations and Imam Jamil Al-Amin's community.

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On March 20, 2000, the Atlanta Constitution reported on the search for Imam Jamil Al-Amin, wanted in connection with the shooting of two Fulton County Deputies on March 16th. Deputy Richard Kinchen died the next day. Al-Amim is the leader of a mosque in Atlanta's West End, and a "hero to some in the West End because he is credited with doing something the police could not: clearing out drug dealers." Police report no help from the community.

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 18, 2000, the Los Angeles Times published an article on the hajj, reporting that for many this journey is the "high point of their religious lives." For some, the experience is one of profound equality across race and class differences: "In Mecca, there was "no ranking," ...(b)usiness tycoons and beggars marched side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in the series of rituals that mark the pilgrimage."

Source: Star Tribune

On March 18, 2000, the Minneapolis Star Tribune printed an article outlining the Jewish resolution to the difficulties that arise from the religious prohibition (shared by Jews and Muslims) of payment of interest. The concept of "Heter Iskah" requires that both parties to the financial transaction agree to be "partners in a joint venture" and to share the profits rather than structure the relationship as "lender-borrower" with interest payment. Muslims have arranged formal joint ventures, but this has often proven cumbersome without...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On March 17, 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Muslims will gather for Eid al-Adha in the Chicago area. In past years, Muslims have celebrated Eid al-Adha at McCormick Place in Chicago, but this year the services will be held at various Islamic centers and rented facilities throughout the Chicago area. Eid al-Adha marks the end of the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, and commemorates Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to Allah.

Source: The Washington Post

On March 17, 2000, The Washington Post reported that more than 20,000 worshipers from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. gathered at the Capital Expo Center in western Fairfax County, Virginia for Eid al-Adha celebrations. The gathering of Muslims for Eid al-Adha will be the largest ever in the Washington area, which has seen a remarkable growth in the Muslim population. The article reports that there are approximately 300,000 Muslims living in the Washington area.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On March 17, 2000, the St. Petersburg Times reported that the Muslim American Society will celebrate Eid al-Adha at Williams Park in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 17th.

Source: The Detroit News

On March 16, 2000, The Detroit News published an article entitled, "Muslims Mark Sacrifice Festival: Thousands of Sheep Will Be Slaughtered in Metro Detroit as Holy Holiday Begins."

Source: The Detroit News

On March 13, 2000, The Detroit News published an article entitled, "Muslims Take Journey of the Soul: Diary Recounts What it's Like to Experience the Hajj."

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 11, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that several thousand Southern California Muslims are expected to celebrate the end of the yearly pilgrimage with communal prayers Thursday, March 16th at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 5, 2000, the Los Angeles Times published an article on the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca through the eyes of a Garden Grove, California family who are about to embark on the journey. The Sufi-Ismail family, consisting of Muzni and Shamilla, their three daughters, and Shamilla's mother, will leave shortly on the Hajj, which is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith that every devout Muslim must fulfill at least once in one's lifetime, health and finances permitting. Shamilla Sufi-Ismail stated: "Every Muslim wants to do...