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Harpeet Singh Saini testifies at a US Senate hearing about the mass shooting that took his mother during the 2012 Oak Creek Gurdwara mass shooting in Wisconsin. Photo: C-SPAN

Thoughts on the US Senate hearing on hate violence

September 21, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On Wednesday, as many had, I watched the webcast of the US Senate hearing “Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism” in which testimony was given by various government agencies and representatives of points of view in relation to hate violence. Among those providing testimony was Harpreet Singh Saini, one of the sons (his brother Kamaljit Singh Saini was also in attendance) of victim Paramjit Kaur, who was killed in the shooting rampage at the Gurdwara in Oak Creek, […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Hate Crimes, Politics • Tags: Daryl Johnson, Dick Durbin, extremism, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Harpreet Singh Saini, hate crimes, Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism, Herb Kohl, Kamaljit Singh Saini, Oak Creek, Paramjit Kaur, Richard Blumenthal, Wisconsin

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California’s Workplace Religion Freedom Act rights the wrongs faced by our parents

September 19, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

When my Sikh father immigrated to America in 1970 to practice architecture, employers told him that he could have a job only if he removed his turban and shaved his beard. He refused to abandon his faith and took his first job as an office boy, sharpening pencils and making coffee for his fellow architects. For decades, Sikh fathers like mine and countless religious minorities around the nation have been offered a similarly false choice between religious freedom and self-fulfillment […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Reflections • Tags: AB1964, California, National Public Radio, NPR, Rajdeep Singh, Sikh Coalition, StoryCorps, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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UPDATE: US Senate hate crime hearing tomorrow

September 18, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding their hearing “Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism” in Washington, D.C. (note room change): The hearing entitled “Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism” scheduled before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 2:30 p.m., in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building will now take place in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Hate Crimes, Politics • Tags: Harpreet Singh Saini, Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism, hearing, Oak Creek, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution Civil Rights and Human Rights, Wisconsin

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Is a “man in a turban” unpatriotic?

September 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Satinder Singh Malhi, a member of the staff of California State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, talks about his experience growing up as a turban-wearing Sikh and how ignorance continues to impact him even today (via @sepiamutiny): After he appeared on DeSaulnier’s behalf at a Memorial Day ceremony this year, an angry mother of an Iraq War veteran emailed the senator, denouncing Malhi’s presence. She wrote that a man in a turban “is a poor choice to represent you” at a patriotic event. […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Profiles • Tags: AB1964, California, California State Senate, Mark DeSaulnier, Oak Creek, Satinder Singh Malhi, Wisconsin, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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U.S. Senate to hold hearing on hate crimes next week

September 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Next Wednesday, the Unites States Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing on hate crimes in Washington, D.C. The meeting will be chaired by US Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, who has a history of supporting the civil rights of religious minorities in this country. The hearing will bring to the national stage a discussion about domestic hate groups in this country. From the Sikh Coalition: (New York, New York) September 12, 2012 – In the wake of […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Politics • Tags: Dick Durbin, Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism, hearing, Oak Creek, Sikh Coalition, United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution Civil Rights and Human Rights, Wisconsin

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Meet and dine with American Turban at the Sikh Coalition’s 5K fundraiser

September 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Have you ever wondered: “Who is American Turban?” On Saturday, September 22, the Sikh Coalition is holding their “5K for the 5Ks” run/walk fundraising event, and I have just confirmed my attendance to support the great work by the Sikh Coalition in Sikh American civil rights. This is your chance to meet me! Even better, I will treat the individual who donates the most to dinner in the Bay Area! To qualify, donate to my 5K for the 5Ks page […]

Categories: American Turban, Civil Rights, Events • Tags: 5K for the 5Ks, California, San Francisco Bay Area, Sikh Coalition

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Picture of the Day: A new day for California’s Sikhs

September 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

At a rally at the California State Capitol on Saturday, Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills that would help combat discrimination particularly faced by Sikhs: the California Workplace Religious Freedom Act (AB1964) and the History-Social Science Framework (SB1540). Joined by Assembly Member Mariko Yamada, who introduced AB1964, and Dr. Onkar Bindra, who championed SB1540, the Governor ushered in a new day for Sikh Californians, and set a precedent for such legislation across the country. Both laws take effect on January […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Picture of the Day, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, Dr. Onkar Bindra, History-Social Science Framework, Jerry Brown, Mariko Yamada, Sacramento, SB1540, Sikh Coalition, Simran Kaur, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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Mayor of Garrett, IN, “opposes discrimination” after throwing Sikh pamphlets in the trash

September 5, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Tonya Hoeffel, the Mayor of Garrett, a small town in Indiana, apologized on Monday for tossing into the trash pamphlets about the Sikh religion that were placed in a convenience store owned by Kulwinder Nagra: The manager and part-owner of Quickway in Garrett, Kulwinder Nagra, 38, said he put pamphlets about his Sikh religion on the counter of the store after the shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin . “I just wanted to let people know who I am,” […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: Garrett, Indiana, Kulwinder Nagra, Tonya Hoeffel

Ask CA Governor Jerry Brown to sign laws that impact Sikhs

August 30, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On blog The Langar Hall, Sundari describes two important bills currently on the desk of California Governor Jerry Brown. These proposals are of direct importance to California’s Sikh community. Public support is needed to convince him enact the bills into law by the end of September: AB1964 – Workplace Religious Freedom Act: SIGN THE PETITION If this bill moves forward and becomes law, it will sharply reduce job discrimination against Sikhs and other religious minorities and guarantee equal employment opportunity […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, Jerry Brown, SB1540, Sikh Coalition, Social science, The Langar Hall, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: Civil Rights

Thoughts on the US Senate hearing on hate violence

California’s Workplace Religion Freedom Act rights the wrongs faced by our parents

UPDATE: US Senate hate crime hearing tomorrow

Is a “man in a turban” unpatriotic?

U.S. Senate to hold hearing on hate crimes next week

Meet and dine with American Turban at the Sikh Coalition’s 5K fundraiser

Mayor of Garrett, IN, “opposes discrimination” after throwing Sikh pamphlets in the trash