American Morning
Hertz drivers fired for not clocking out during breaks – Local Teamsters rep explains
Hertz, the international car rental service, fired more than two dozen Muslim workers after they refused to clock out for daily breaks, during which they usually pray. Hertz says its a policy that promotes fairness. The Muslim drivers, however, claim that this policy violates their religious freedoms.
This morning on American Morning, Alina Cho talks with Tracey Thompson, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 117, to discuss the workers' complaints with Hertz – and the next steps they plan to take against the car rental company.
Park51 developer discusses the opening of the first phase of the community center
Coinciding with the United Nations International Day of Peace, the first part of Park51, the planned Lower Manhattan Islamic community center that sparked an international controversy last year, is set to open today.
Park51's first big public event will be a photography exhibit comprised of portraits of children from 169 countries who now live in New York City.
Sharif El-Gamal, Park 51 developer and chairman of the board of directors, talks to American Morning today about the protests surrounding the project and where the construction of the center stands.
Photos are courtesy of Danny Goldfield.
The gift of rest: Sen. Joe Lieberman on the importance of observing the Sabbath in his life
It's a concept that sounds impossible to many of us. A day with no phone. No email. No Blackberry.
Just a simple day of rest spent reflecting with family.
You might think you can't afford to unplug like that, but Senator Joe Lieberman says you can't afford not to.
Former Presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman writes about his own observance of the Sabbath in his new book "The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath." He talks with American Morning's Ali Velshi today about how taking a day of rest has shaped his career and his life.
Bishops filing suit claiming Alabama's immigration law violates freedom of religion
Christian leaders in Alabama are fighting back against a tough new immigration law set to take effect in a few weeks.
The new law makes it a crime for an illegal immigrant to apply for any work. School districts will have to report on their students' immigration status. It will also be a crime to give rides to illegal immigrants or harbor them.
It's the last part that has four bishops from three Christian denominations in court. They have filed suit to block the law, saying it prevents them from freely practicing their religion.
This morning on American Morning, CNN's Carol Costello speaks with Bishop Henry Parsley, who helped file the suit. Carol also talks with Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immmigration Studies, on why he supports the bill.
Are Presidential candidates blurring the line between church and state?
Numerous Republican Presidential prospects have been using religion on the campaign trail, especially in this week leading up to the influential Ames Iowa Straw Poll.
Tony Perkins' Family Research Council is supporting the "Values Voter bus tour" this week, which will cover 1,305 miles in four days with candidates including Rick Santorum, Tim Pawlenty, Herman Cain, and most likely Michele Bachmann. Perkins, an influential Christian leader, also co-hosted Governor Rick Perry's prayer day this past Saturday.
Perkins joins Jonathan Merritt, Christian commentator, on American Morning today to discuss how much religion is playing a part in the GOP candidates' campaigns and to weigh in on where the line should be drawn between religion and politics.
Rick Perry holds religious gathering, leads prayer for United States
Over the weekend, 30,000 people attended a prayer event hosted in Houston by Texas governor Rick Perry, dubbed "The Response."
Perry called on both Christians and politicians to attend his religious gathering, during which he read passages of scripture and led the audience in a prayer for the United States' economy and political system.
Kasie Hunt, national political reporter with Politico, and Paul Burka, senior executive editor for Texas Monthly, join Carol Costello on American Morning today to discuss the event and to weigh in on whether or not Perry is likely to announce a run for President.
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