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Amardeep Singh with President Barack Obama

Amardeep Singh: What the Obama administration has done for the Sikh community

November 6, 2012 by American Turban Guest Contributor

Amardeep Singh is long-time Sikh activist, who is known in particular for his work with the Sikh Coalition. This piece however is written in his personal capacity. On this election day in the United States, Amardeep has graciously provided a few thoughts for consideration.You can follow Amardeep on Twitter at @amarhoboken. Dear Sikh Friends, In case there is any Sikh American voter left to be persuaded, I just wanted to share this quick but comprehensive list of what the Obama Administration […]

Categories: Politics, Reflections • Tags: 2012 elections, Amardeep Singh, Barack Obama, President of the United States, SikhVOTE

Know Your Rights on Election Day (source: SALDEF)

Tomorrow is election day: know your voting rights

November 5, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

With tomorrow being election day in the United States, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) offers voting advice and resources oriented towards the Sikh American community through their “SikhVOTE” campaign: Why should you? In 1923 the Supreme Court said Sikh Americans could not become citizens — we could not vote and were denied a voice in our country. Today, we have the right to vote, the right to share our voice and determine the direction of our […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics, Resources • Tags: SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, SikhVOTE, Voting

CA9 candidates respond to questionnaire on Sikh American-related issues

October 30, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Co-blogged with Sundari Kaur of The Langar Hall Last week, in the context of the significance of California’s 9th Congressional District to Sikh Americans, we sent the major candidates of California’s 9th Congressional District — incumbent Representative Jerry McNerney and challenger Ricky Gill — a questionnaire to learn more about their positions about Sikh American-related issues (see previous post here). Both candidates responded. However, the nature of the responses received were quite different. Rep. Jerry McNerney’s campaign responded to the questionnaire […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: California, California 9th Congressional District, Jerry McNerney, Ricky Gill

Surveying the candidates of California’s 9th Congressional District on Sikh American issues

October 26, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Co-blogged with Sundari Kaur of The Langar Hall Of recent and recurring discussion on The Langar Hall and American Turban has been the election race in California’s 9th Congressional District (map). For Sikh Americans, this district’s race is significant. Located in northern California, the 9th Congressional District contains America’s oldest and one of its largest Sikh American communities. The oldest Gurdwara in the United States (which only a couple of weeks ago celebrated its centennial anniversary) is located in this […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: California 9th Congressional District, Jerry McNerney, Ricky Gill

When a Sikh runs: the irony of California’s 9th Congressional District

October 17, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Tonight, I attended the 100th Anniversary of the local Sikh temple in #Stockton. Congratulations to the community. It was an honor to attend — Jerry McNerney (@RepMcNerney) October 14, 2012 During last Saturday’s celebrations to celebrate the Centennial of the Stockton, California, Gurdwara, in addition to having the opportunity to listen to Ricky Gill (Republican candidate for California’s 9th Congressional District) speak, I also was interested to hear the congratulatory words offered to the Sikh community by Representative Jerry McNerney, […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: California, California 9th Congressional District, Jerry McNerney, Oak Creek, Ricky Gill, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, Wisconsin

Republican candidate for California's 9th Congressional District Ricky Gill posted this photo of his attendance at a birthday celebration for the US Navy on Saturday night. After this article on American Turban, the Gill campaign deleted the photo. (source: Ricky Gill campaign Facebook page)

When a Sikh runs: the curious case of Ricky Gill

October 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The case of Republican candidate for Congress Ricky Gill, running against incumbent Jerry McNerney to represent California’s 9th Congressional District, makes for an interesting study about a Sikh American seeking public office in this country. His campaign, and his reluctance to publicly acknowledge his Sikh background, has been a recurring topic on this blog. On Saturday night, I had the opportunity to observe Ricky Gill in person. I had attended the Centennial celebration of the Stockton Gurdwara — which is […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: Bobby Jindal, California, Jerry McNerney, Nikki Haley, Republican Party, Ricky Gill, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib

Stockton, CA Gurdwara Centennial Celebration concludes this weekend

October 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

WHEREAS, The faithful service of the Sikh American community to this state and country merits appreciation as an integral thread in the fabric of American plurality; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes October 13, 2012, as the 100-year anniversary of the Sikh American community, and calls upon the people of California to commemorate the day with appropriate celebrations; — excerpt from the State of California […]

Categories: Events, Politics • Tags: AB1964, ACR 97, California, History-Social Science Framework, Proclamation, SB1540, SCR 104, Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month, Sikh Centennial, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

Republican Ricky Gill says the “S” word

October 8, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After months of silence, in an article printed in the Stockton Record, Republican candidate for Congress (for California’s 9th District) Ricky Gill finally openly acknowledges his Sikh background: » Religion: Gill, who attended St. Anne’s Catholic and Mokelumne River schools before Tokay, is a practicing Sikh. “It is the faith of my fathers,” he said. With less than a month to go before the election, the timing of this rare public statement by him is interesting. One wonders as to […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: Ricky Gill

AAPI preference of candidate by issue (source: NAAS Survey)

Who do Sikh Americans vote for, and why?

October 5, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The recent higher profile civic engagement of the Sikh American community has been notable in this election cycle. Ishwar Singh, of Orlando, Florida, was invited by the Republican Party to provide an invocation during the Republican National Convention and we also saw a sizable and very visible contingent of Sikhs attending as delegates at the Democratic National Convention. By apparent attendance at the national conventions, it appeared that Sikhs were more supportive of the Democratic Party rather than the Republicans. […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Democratic, Democratic National Convention, Harpreet Sandhu, Ishwar Singh, Jusleen Kaur, Mitt Romney, Republican, Republican National Convention, Sikh American voter preference, SikhVOTE

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: Politics