Politics | American Turban

President Barack Obama outlines future counter-terrorism efforts in a speech on May 23, 2013. (Source: The Washington Post)

What the President said, and didn’t say, about the Oak Creek, WI, shooting

May 23, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In his speech today about the US government’s counter-terrorism activities and strategy, President Barack Obama made reference to home-grown radicalized “individuals”, citing explicitly the mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek last August: Finally, we face a real threat from radicalized individuals here in the United States. Whether it’s a shooter at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin; a plane flying into a building in Texas; or the extremists who killed 168 people at the Federal Building […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Politics • Tags: Barack Obama, hate crimes, Oak Creek, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Terrorism, White supremacy, Wisconsin

Honoring Dalip Singh Saund

May 22, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On May 16, US House Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) commemorated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by honoring one of his predecessors, Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian American (and only Sikh) to serve in US Congress (1957-1963): Congressman Saund was the first Asian American Member of Congress, the very first Member of a non-Abrahamic faith, and the first Member born in Asia. He was also our first Sikh American to enter Congress. He also represented my hometown of Riverside, California, […]

Categories: Events, Politics • Tags: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Dalip Singh Saund, Mark Takano, United States House of Representatives, US Congress

In a process that took 30 years, Sajjan Kumar, a leader in India's Congress Party, was recently acquitted in the case implicating his involvement in the anti-Sikh pogroms in 1984. Five co-accused were convicted.(source: Live Mint)

The Indian Disconnect

May 21, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

About two months ago, I observed the continuing engagement by representatives of the Indian government with the Sikh American community, which in that instance took the form of an exhibition on Sikh heritage in Atlanta, Georgia, sponsored by the Government of India. This exhibit has just recently been presented in Washington, D.C., as well, and it is consistent with increased engagement and activity related to the Sikh American community — be it directly, or through lobbying of US officials — […]

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: 1984, 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Government of India, November 1984, Sajjan Kumar

"South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley enters the State House chamber in Columbia to give her State of the State address in January. Democrat Dick Harpootlian has told activists to “send Nikki Haley back to wherever the hell she came from.” (Mary Ann Chastain/AP)" (source: The Daily Beast)

SC Democratic Party: Nikki Haley should “go back to wherever the hell she came from.”

May 6, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On Friday, at a state Democratic Party event in South Carolina, party chairman Dick Harpootlian used interesting words to describe Governor Nikki Haley’s origins: “In about 18 months from now, hopefully he’ll have sent Nikki Haley back to wherever the hell she came from.” Nikki Haley, who has been discussed often on this blog, comes from a Sikh American family and later converted to Methodist Christianity. During her campaign for the governor’s seat, she regularly touted her Christian credentials. Despite […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: Dick Harpootlian, Nikki Haley, Sikh Jesus, South Carolina, South Carolina Democratic Party

President Barack Obama (source: White House)

President Obama recognizes history, challenges for AAPI communities

May 1, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In his proclamation to commemorate the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, President Obama not only celebrates Asian American/Pacific Islander communities, but also recognizes the continuing challenges these communities have faced in this country: For many in the AAPI community, that story is one also marked by lasting inequality and bitter wrongs. Immigrants seeking a better life were often excluded, subject to quotas, or denied citizenship because of their race. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Hate Crimes, Politics • Tags: Asian American, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Barack Obama, hate crimes, Pacific Islander, Pacific Islander Heritage Month, White House

CA Senate and Assembly call for post-secondary education about Sikh Americans

April 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In February, California State Assembly Member Dan Logue introduced a resolution entitled ACR-20: Postsecondary education: instruction in world religions: Sikhism which called for Sikhism to be included in world religion courses at California’s public post-secondary institutions. The resolution was cosponsored by Assembly Member Henry Perea. While non-binding, the resolution seeks to raise awareness about Sikh Americans. After it was passed by the State Assembly in March, Assembly Member Logue’s office announced yesterday that the State Senate has also passed the […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: ACR-20, California, California State Assembly, California State Senate, Dan Logue, Henry Perea

"Nazar Kooner addresses the gathering at the Sikh temple on South P Street with Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall and sister-city Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora of Amritsar to his left earlier this month in Bakersfield." (source: Bakersfield Californian)

Mayor of Amritsar is impressed with Bakersfield, California

April 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In August 2011, the city of Bakersfield, California, announced a “sister-city” association with Amritsar, Punjab, India, the center of the Sikh faith and home to Darbar Sahib (aka the Golden Temple, Sikhism’s central Gurdwara). Recently, the Mayor of Amritsar visited Bakersfield, an unassuming city 100 miles north of Los Angeles that contains a large Sikh population and is economically based on the agricultural industry: Amritsar, Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora told the Hindustan Times, is a far cry from the squeaky […]

Categories: News Bits, Politics • Tags: Amritsar, Bakersfield, Bakshi Ram Arora, California, Darbar Sahib, Harmandir Sahib, Harvey Hall, India, Nazar Kooner, sister-city

American Sikhs get voice in US Congress

April 25, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, the creation of a new bipartisan group called the American Sikh Congressional Caucus was announced in Washington, D.C., the purpose of which is to “educate Members of Congress and the general public about Sikh American issues. It will also allow Members to strategize on how to support the Sikh American community.” For this session of Congress, the American Sikh Congressional Caucus is co-chaired by two House Representatives from California: Representative Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park, and advocate for the Sikh […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: American Sikh Congressional Caucus, David Valadeo, Judy Chu, United States House of Representatives, US Congress

California Rep. Mike Honda Questions FBI Director on the need for additional categories in the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics Act data collection mandate. (source: C-SPAN, via SALDEF)

According to US Department of Justice, most hate crimes not reported

March 26, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

While the FBI reports hate crimes based on voluntary reporting by law enforcement agencies (a database which is rife with issues) around the country, the most recent study by the US Department of Justice based on the National Crime Victimization Survey (a survey of victims of crime) continues to shed more light about the nature of hate crimes in the United States. According to the new report issued by the Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, a quarter of a million […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Politics, Reports/Studies • Tags: FBI, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, hate crime, Hate Crime Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, United States Bureau of Justice Statistics

American Turban

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: Politics