Citing a need for public accountability and to guard against the wholesale surveillance of religious and political organizations, a diverse group of Chicago-area associations and individuals sharing a commitment to social justice and community service today filed federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asking that agency to release surveillance files about those groups and individuals that were opened and maintained by FBI agents.

On November 13th or 14th (exact date depends on sighting of the new moon), the Muslim community in America will celebrate the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan with communal prayers around the country.

Today, we are standing together against the growing use of race, religion, and immigrant bashing in the political discourse of our nation. It is Important that we stand united against all forms of bigotry. An attack on one is an attack on all.

On Friday, October 1, 2004, representatives of Chicago-area interfaith, Latino, Asian, and immigrant organizations will hold a news conference at the Downtown Islamic Center to protest what the groups say is "hate-filled" rhetoric about Muslims by Illinois Republican congressional candidate Kurt Eckhardt.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today expressed concern over the potential for racial and religious profiling in a new security initiative by the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The initiative focuses on searching CTA L cars for "suspicious" passengers and objects.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that a Muslim worker in Illinois filed a religious and national origin discrimination lawsuit against a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co., one of the nation's largest retailers.

Immigrants and their allies gathered outside the campaign office of Dan Lipinski, candidate for U.S. Representative (District 3), to challenge him to meet with local southwest side leaders. Demonstrators demanded he fulfill a promise made weeks ago, to a meeting with community leaders to discuss his position on issues affecting immigrants.