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Stockton, CA Gurdwara hosts community clergy breakfast

July 23, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“I see a community stepping up, rising up,” Johnston said. “Each of us has a role. It is a great gift to our community to have the Sikhs here in Stockton.” — Stockton, California Mayor Ann Johnston comments after her visit to the “Sikh-American birthplace”, the Sikh house of worship in Stockton, California that is considered the first and oldest Gurdwara in the country. The Gurdwara is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Ann Johnston, California, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib

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Respecting diversity in workplace also good for employers

July 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

David Briggs, of the Association of Religion Data Archives, writes an article about the benefits to employers when respecting religious diversity in the workplace. Often, employers are reluctant to acknowledge their employees’ faith in the workplace, but Briggs suggests that this may have a negative affect on productivity and morale: Researchers say more studies need to be done, but past work showing positive relations between faith and better physical and mental health indicate those same benefits could extend from factory […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, Association of Religion Data Archives, California, David Briggs, Diversity, Employment, Mariko Yamada, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA

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Let’s call it what it is: “Sikhophobia”

July 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A number of different American communities have been impacted by Islamophobia, and practitioners of the Sikh religion make up one of the most adversely affected minority groups. The distinctive physical appearance of typical Sikh males in particular — brown skin, turban, beard — correlates with the stereotypical images of terrorists projected in western media. Scholars have recently described this perceived relationship as a racialization of religious identity. This process has led to a conflation of Sikhs and Muslims, and therefore, […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes • Tags: Brampton, California, Canada, Elk Grove, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Fresno, hate crimes, Huffington Post, Islamophobia, Michigan, Ontario, Sikhophobia, Simran Jeet Singh, Sterling, Sterling Heights, Virginia

Picture of the Day: Sikh Scouts Troop in Fremont, CA

July 9, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Fremont 4th of July Parade Committee is a volunteer non-profit organization that holds the 4th of July parade in Fremont, California each year. This year, one of the participating groups in the parade was Sikh Scouts Troop 600, who was featured on the Fremont 4th of July Parade’s Facebook page. Formed in 2009 in Santa Clara County, Sikh Scouts Troop 600 was the first Sikh-oriented troop in the Boy Scouts of America organization.

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day • Tags: Boy Scouts of America, California, Fourth of July, Fremont, Fremont 4th of July Parade, Independence Day, Sikh Scouts Troop 600

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Sikhs in Stockton, CA Independence Day Parade

July 7, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Sikhs in Stockton, California, participated in the city’s Independence Day Parade on Wednesday, and enjoyed a little bit of news coverage. Stockton is home to America’s first and oldest Gurdwara, and so it is heartening to see Sikhs participating as part of that community.

Categories: Events • Tags: California, Independence Day, Stockton

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Sikh history and the legacy of American Independence

July 4, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On this day in 1776, the American colonies declared their independence from Britain: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. In this declaration, we see the seeds of what was to become the United States we know today. At this time, Sikhs were also claiming their autonomy in the northwestern portion of the Indian […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Reflections • Tags: California, Declaration of Independence, Fourth of July, Ghadar Party, Independence Day, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Stockton

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

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Picture of the Day: Sikhs hold first-ever Nagar Kirtan in Turlock, CA

June 26, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Sikhs in the central California city of Turlock held their first ever Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) last Sunday: Last week, backers of Sunday’s parade said they anticipated 1,000 or more people. According to Harinder Grewal, more than 2,000 people came to see the noontime parade at the Sikh temple. “It was a huge success,” Grewal said. …Grewal said the plan is to make the parade an annual event, with next year’s expanding beyond this year’s, with a bigger route and […]

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day • Tags: California, Nagar Kirtan, Turlock

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Bhajneet Singh: Use a positive attitude to counter discrimination

June 19, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Californian Bhajneet Singh reflects on growing up as a Sikh in the United States: I work for a small wholesale clothing company that takes me around the world quite a bit. As I travel around to different parts of the country, people tend to notice that I have the accent, clothes, and personality of a Venice Beach surfer dude. When people point this out to me, I take it as a compliment. Much can be learned from Bhajneet Singh’s proactive […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: Bhajneet Singh, California, Los Angeles

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: California

Stockton, CA Gurdwara hosts community clergy breakfast

Respecting diversity in workplace also good for employers

Let’s call it what it is: “Sikhophobia”

Picture of the Day: Sikh Scouts Troop in Fremont, CA

Sikhs in Stockton, CA Independence Day Parade

Sikh history and the legacy of American Independence

Workplace Religious Freedom in CA takes another step forward

Picture of the Day: Sikhs hold first-ever Nagar Kirtan in Turlock, CA

Bhajneet Singh: Use a positive attitude to counter discrimination