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Have you hugged a Sikh today? (Photo: Karaminder Ghuman)

November is California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month

November 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As it did in 2010 and 2012, the California state legislature has declared November 2013 as “Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month” across the state. The bill (Assembly Concurrent Resolution 25) was introduced by Assemblymember Robert Wieckowski, and it passed through the State Assembly and Senate in September. From the resolution: Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of November 2013 to be California’s Sikh American Awareness and […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Education, Events, Resources • Tags: ACR-25, California, California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month, California State Assembly, California State Senate, Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month, Sikh Awareness Month, Sikh Coalition

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

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

Workplace Religious Freedom in CA takes another step forward

June 27, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After recently being approved by the California State Assembly, the proposed Workplace Religious Freedom Act (AB1964) took another step forward yesterday on the path to becoming law when it was passed by the State Senate Judiciary Committee: Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada was joined Tuesday by representatives from the interfaith and civil rights community as AB 1964, the Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2012, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. AB 1964 strengthens the religious accommodation standard under the California Fair […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, California State Assembly, California State Senate, California State Senate Judiciary Committee, Employment Discrimination, Mariko Yamada, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA