Rupinder Mohan Singh |

US Congresswoman testifies about racial profiling

April 19, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“Congresswoman Chu testifying at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights entitled “Ending Racial Profiling in America.”” US House Representative Judy Chu testified yesterday on the racial profiling of Muslims, Sikhs, and South Asians in support of the End Racial Profiling Act (mentioned previously on this blog). Her full remarks are available on her website, in which she states: “I am here today to speak up against racial profiling wherever and […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: End Racial Profiling Act, Judy Chu, Racial profiling, Sikh Coalition, United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution Civil Rights and Human Rights

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Sikh Americans campaign to end racial profiling and protect workplace religious freedom

April 17, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Two Sikh American organizations are currently engaged in campaigns to help protect the religious freedoms of Sikhs and other minorities in this country from discriminatory practices: SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) is working for the passage of the federal End Racial Profiling Act. The Sikh Coalition is undertaking a campaign to have the Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2012 passed in California. Both of these organizations are seeking public support to help pass these laws.

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, End Racial Profiling Act, HR3618, Labor and Employment Committee, Mariko Yamada, S1670, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA

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Picture of the Day: Stockton, CA Nagar Kirtan

April 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Thousands reportedly participated in yesterday’s Nagar Kirtan in Stockton, California to celebrate Vaisakhi. This procession included participation by the Sri Dasmesh Malaysian Sikh Band, who also participated in the Nagar Kirtan held Saturday in San Jose, California. In October, the Sikh community in Stockton will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of their Gurdwara – the first in America: “This Gurudwara holds historical significance, Gadri Baba (Gadri Baba Mangu Ram Muggowalia), who established the Gurdwara in 1912, he also fought […]

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day • Tags: California, Gadri Baba, Nagar Kirtan, Sri Dasmesh Malaysian Sikh Band, Stockton, Vaisakhi

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The Weekly Beard! for April 16, 2012

April 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

It’s common knowledge that a poet is only as good as his beard. Or so went the wisdom of Poets Ranked by Beard Weight, a privately printed subscription leaflet authored by Upton Uxbridge Underwood and distributed by the Torchbearer Society of London across the reading bins and cocktail tables of turn-of-the-century parlor cars and smoking lounges to keep the era’s literati informed and entertained. The exceedingly rare work eventually became a prized collector’s item for bibliophiles and beard-historians alike, and […]

Categories: The Weekly Beard • Tags: Poets Ranked by Beard Weight, Upton Uxbridge Underwood

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Malaysian Sikh band performs at the Nagar Kirtan in San Jose, CA (source: twitter user @i5jabi)

Picture of the Day: Malaysian Sikh band at San Jose, CA Nagar Kirtan

April 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A Nagar Kirtan was held at the Sikh Gurdwara – San Jose in California yesterday in celebration of Vaisakhi, and included a band of Malaysian Sikhs. This band is reported to also be performing at the Gurdwara in Stockton, California tonight, and in Sacramento, California on Tuesday night. Additional pictures of the Nagar Kirtan in San Jose can be seen at the Sikh Gurdwara – San Jose Facebook page.

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day • Tags: California, Nagar Kirtan, San Jose, Sri Dasmesh Malaysian Sikh Band, Vaisakhi

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The Story of the Turban in Britain

April 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

British broadcaster BBC recently aired a documentary called “The Story of the Turban“: In September 2011, Sikhs from all over Britain gathered in Parliament Square to protest. The focus of their concern was the turban. Since the terrorist attacks of the 21st century Sikhs believe their turbans have singled them out for discrimination. In a case of mistaken identity the Sikhs claim they’ve been wrongly regarded as religious terrorists and subjected to increased airport security searches. This documentary traces the […]

Categories: Civil Rights, TV/Movies • Tags: BBC, Britain, The Story of the Turban, Turban, United Kingdom

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New York City Sikhs to hold Nagar Kirtan next Saturday, April 21

April 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In celebration of Vaisakhi, Sikhs in New York City will be holding a Nagar Kirtan on Saturday, April 21: New York City will celebrate the occasion of Vaisakhi as part of the Sikh Day Parade on Saturday, April 21. The parade will begin at 1 p.m., leaving from 39th St and Madison Avenue, proceeding downtown to 24th St at Madison Square Park where there will be a langar with free food in keeping with the spirit of Sikh hospitality. Please […]

Categories: Events • Tags: Huffington Post, Jallianwale Bagh, Nagar Kirtan, New York City, Vaisakhi

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Picture of the Day: CA Assemblywoman Yamada announces workplace religious freedom bill

April 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

California Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada held a press conference yesterday at the Gurdwara in West Sacramento, California, alongside representatives of the Sikh Coalition, the Council of American-Islamic Relations – Sacramento Valley, and the local Sikh community to speak about the Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2012 (also known as AB1964) – the legislation she introduced to the California State Legislature to bolster the protection of workplace religious freedom in California.

Categories: Civil Rights, Picture of the Day • Tags: AB1964, CAIR, California, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Mariko Yamada, Rosa Parks, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA

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Two Vaisakhi celebrations this Sunday in California

April 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This Sunday, the California cities of Selma and Stockton will each be holding a Nagar Kirtan in celebration of Vaisakhi, one of the most significant anniversaries on the Sikh calendar. The celebration in Selma is the 18th annual of its kind and will draw from Fresno and surrounding counties: The parade is scheduled to start about 10.30 a.m. from the Sikh Center on Highland Avenue. The parade will go north on Highland, east on Rose Avenue, north on Thompson Avenue, […]

Categories: Events • Tags: California, Nagar Kirtan, Selma, Stockton, Vaisakhi

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Author Archives: Rupinder Mohan Singh

US Congresswoman testifies about racial profiling

Sikh Americans campaign to end racial profiling and protect workplace religious freedom

Picture of the Day: Stockton, CA Nagar Kirtan

The Weekly Beard! for April 16, 2012

Picture of the Day: Malaysian Sikh band at San Jose, CA Nagar Kirtan

The Story of the Turban in Britain

New York City Sikhs to hold Nagar Kirtan next Saturday, April 21

Picture of the Day: CA Assemblywoman Yamada announces workplace religious freedom bill

Two Vaisakhi celebrations this Sunday in California