Jerry McNerney |

Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, circa 1912 (source: Gadar Heritage Foundation)

The Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: Sikh Americans celebrate a century

January 11, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The year 2012 would mark a milestone for Sikhs in America. In late September, Sikh Americans in California’s central valley region celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Gurdwara in Stockton, California. Recognized as the nation’s first and oldest Sikh house of worship, the Stockton Gurdwara Sahib was founded in 1912, and is associated with significant points in Sikh American history. According to the Stockton Record: » It has a direct link to Indian independence and was […]

Categories: Events, Reflections • Tags: Jerry McNerney, Sikh Centennial, Sikhism in the United States, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Tom McClintock, Top 5 Sikh American Stories

Ricky Gill makes a speech during his campaign to represent California's 9th Congressional District in Congress(source: IndiaWest)

When a Sikh runs: a recap of the Ricky Gill campaign

November 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

It was just over a week ago that we learned of the results of the elections in the United States, including that to represent California’s 9th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. In that race, a Sikh American named Ricky Gill challenged incumbent Representative Jerry McNerney to represent the district in Congress. Rep. McNerney would win this election by receiving almost 55% of the vote. As a Sikh American, I followed the Ricky Gill campaign on this blog. His […]

Categories: Politics, Reflections • Tags: 2012 elections, California, California 9th Congressional District, Jerry McNerney, Ricky Gill, Stockton, Tom McClintock

Representative Tom McClintock honors Stockton, CA, Gurdwara centennial

November 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, Representative Tom McClintock, of California’s 4th Congressional District, formally acknowledged in the Congressional Record the centennial of the Gurdwara (Sikh house of worship) in Stockton, California: In his statement, Rep Tom McClintock (R-Granite Bay) compared members of the world’s fifth-largest religion to the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower in 1620 “seeking a better future in a free land for their descendants. “It is the very same story of pilgrims like Baba Vasakha Singh and Baba […]

Categories: Events, Politics • Tags: California, Jerry McNerney, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, Tom McClintock

Taking a tally of the Sikh American candidates of 2012

November 7, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As discussed previously, the 2012 election cycle involved several Sikh candidates at federal, state and local levels. Interestingly, to my knowledge, the Sikh candidates that were running were all in the state of California. After last night’s election results, below is a tally of how each Sikh American candidate fared after the voting closed last night. Representative Jerry McNerney versus Ricky Gill California’s 9th Congressional District Ricky Gill’s campaign has been a regular topic on this blog, particularly around his […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: 2012 elections, California 9th Congressional District, California State Senate District 11, Harmeet Dhillon, Jerry McNerney, Kash Gill, Mark Leno, Ricky Gill, San Francisco, Stockton, Yuba City, Yuba City City Council

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

Wherefore art thou, Ricky Gill?

August 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I have written several times about Ranjit “Ricky” Gill, the Republican Party candidate for Congress in California’s 9th Congressional District. Gill is challenging Democratic Party incumbent Jerry McNerney for the seat. Gill, 25, is the son of Sikh physicians in the Stockton, California area. Much of the donations to his campaign have come from the Sikh community, as well as interests in the healthcare and agricultural industries. The northern California constituency for which Gill is contesting is an area that […]

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

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Jerry McNerney