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"Jurupa school board members on Monday, Nov. 19, discussed safety issues on campus, including a request by some Sikh students to bring ceremonial kirpans to school." (source: Press-Enterprise)

California school board allows Sikh students to wear kirpan, with restriction

November 27, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In southern California, the Board of the Jurupa Unified School District recently enacted a provision allowing Sikh students to carry a kirpan — a sword or blade that is an article of the Sikh faith — on its school campuses: Under the new policy, parents agree to sign a statement that requires the kirpan — a daggerlike object that is a sacred article of faith — to be worn under clothing, to have the blade dulled, to be soldered or […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Sikhism • Tags: California, Jurupa Unified School District, Jurupa Valley, Khalsa, Kirpan, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

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

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UPDATE: US Senate hate crime hearing tomorrow

September 18, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding their hearing “Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism” in Washington, D.C. (note room change): The hearing entitled “Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism” scheduled before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 2:30 p.m., in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building will now take place in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Hate Crimes, Politics • Tags: Harpreet Singh Saini, Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism, hearing, Oak Creek, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution Civil Rights and Human Rights, Wisconsin

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Recent tragedy in WI highlights need to pass proposed legislation

August 14, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The tragedy at the Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, has underscored the need for passage of bills and initiatives addressing the discrimination that particularly targets America’s Sikhs. There are several on-going campaigns whose demonstrable need has become heightened. If you live in California, there are two pieces of legislation that need your immediate support to move forward: The Revised Curriculum Framework Bill (source: SALDEF): “The Revised Curriculum Framework Bill was introduced in the California State Senate by Senator Hancock, and […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, FBI, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Revised Curriculum Framework Bill, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA

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Presidential campaigns speak to Sikh and Asian American issues

July 31, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Ten days ago, representatives of President Barack Obama and Republican candidate for president Mitt Romney participated in a town hall organized by APIAVote to speak to Asian American issues. Rep. Mike Honda, attending on behalf of the President, offered the Sikh greeting to acknowledge the community: Honda, a Democrat from California who is chair emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, gave a shout-out to the Sikh community before answering questions on behalf of the Obama campaign. “Saat Sri […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Politics • Tags: APIAVote, Asian American, Barack Obama, Mike Honda, Mitt Romney, Presidential Town Hall, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Tim Davis

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“Know Your Rights” forum in Sacramento, CA this weekend

July 27, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh Temple Sacramento is collaborating with SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) to host a “Know Your Rights” forum this Sunday, July 29: The event is free and is a good opportunity for Sikh and other residents of the area to educate themselves about their civil rights. The official press release is below.

Categories: Civil Rights, Events • Tags: California, Know Your Rights, Sacramento, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, West Sacramento

Presidential Town Hall discussing API Issues on July 21st

July 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

APIAVote (Asian Pacific Islander Vote) is a national organization that aims to increase the civic participation of the Asian American/Pacific Islander community. On July 21, the organization is holding a town hall meeting in which the presidential nominees from both major parties in this election cycle have been invited to discuss issues important to the Asian/Pacific Islander Americans. According to SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund), one of the event’s sponsors: Hear the campaigns of the Presidential candidates, President […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Politics • Tags: APIAVote, Asian Pacific Islander Vote, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Presidential Town Hall, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

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Washington, DC Police to accommodate observant Sikhs

May 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. will soon make an accommodation to allow observant Sikhs to serve: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund says [D.C. Police Chief Cathy] Lanier will announce an executive order Wednesday that eases uniform and appearance rules for Sikhs. Observant Sikhs generally wear turbans and do not cut their hair, and a policy change will permit them to maintain their appearance. Despite the long history of Sikhs serving in military and law enforcement […]

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits • Tags: "Washington, Cathy Lanier, D.C.", Jasjit Singh Jaggi, Metropolitan Police Department, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

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A look at America’s Sikh advocacy organizations

May 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A recent study called “Lobbying for the Faithful” from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life provided a survey of religious advocacy organizations in Washington, D.C.: The number of organizations engaged in religious lobbying or religion-related advocacy in Washington, D.C., has increased roughly fivefold in the past four decades, from fewer than 40 in 1970 to more than 200 today. These groups collectively employ at least 1,000 people in the greater Washington area and spend at least $350 million […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Reports/Studies • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", Pew Forum, religious advocacy, SALDEF, SCORE, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, Washington DC

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: SALDEF

California school board allows Sikh students to wear kirpan, with restriction

Tomorrow is election day: know your voting rights

UPDATE: US Senate hate crime hearing tomorrow

Recent tragedy in WI highlights need to pass proposed legislation

Presidential campaigns speak to Sikh and Asian American issues

“Know Your Rights” forum in Sacramento, CA this weekend

Presidential Town Hall discussing API Issues on July 21st

Washington, DC Police to accommodate observant Sikhs

A look at America’s Sikh advocacy organizations