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California Governor Jerry Brown (seated) signs AB1964 and SB1540 into law at a rally at the California State Capitol last Saturday. Assembly Member Mariko Yamada (standing left of the Governor), Dr. Onkar Bindra (standing right of the Governor) and Sikh Coalition Advocacy Manager Simran Kaur (far right) joined the Governor. (source: Instagram user i2theb)

The Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: Victories in employment equality

January 9, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In 2012, there were two significant achievements for Sikh Americans in the realm of employment discrimination on each side of the country: the decision by Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department to accept observant Sikhs as full police officers, and the signing of a workplace religious freedom act in California. Both achievements have the potential to act as precedents for further success in dealing with employment discrimination that Sikhs have faced in the United States due to lack of accommodation of […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Reflections • Tags: AB1964, California, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Employment Discrimination, Jerry Brown, Mariko Yamada, Metropolitan Police Department, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Top 5 Sikh American Stories, Washington DC, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

Jasjit Singh Jaggi serves as a member of the NYPD with his articles of faith intact, but only as a traffic officer, after winning his religious accommodation case in 2004. (source: New York City Commission on Human Rights)

It may take a lawsuit for the NYPD to allow Sikhs to serve freely

December 19, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“There is no reason why the NYPD police officers can’t wear a turban and beard and do their job,” said [New York Assemblyman Dave Weprin] mentioning in particular that Sikhs’ beards [prevent] the use of gas masks is not true. “Sikhs can tie up their beards in a crop cut,” he said. …“They are not being as receptive to people that don’t look like them,” he said. — In the Gotham Gazette, New York Assemblyman Dave Weprin discusses the campaign […]

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: Employment Discrimination, Gotham Gazette, Jasjit Singh Jaggi, Metropolitan Police Department, Metropolitan Transit Authority, MTA, New York Police Department, NYPD, religious accommodation, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Workplace Discrimination

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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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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

The Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: Victories in employment equality

It may take a lawsuit for the NYPD to allow Sikhs to serve freely

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