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"Bias Motivation Information" section of the FBI's Hate Crime Incident Report 1-699. (source: FBI)

Tracking anti-Sikh hate crimes is a needed first step

June 12, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Last week, to much jubilation among civil rights groups, an advisory committee to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recommended that the FBI begin specifically recording hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindus, and Arabs (starting in 2015, as I understand), as it does for other targeted groups. It was for good reason that this announcement would be so celebrated considering the significant and lengthy effort to bring this incremental change. However, it is important to place this addition to the FBI’s […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Reports/Studies, Resources • Tags: Department of Justice, FBI, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Form 1-699, hate crime, National Victimation Survey, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, United States Bureau of Justice Statistics

"Simran Kaur, advocacy manager for the Sikh Coalition, recently spoke to 10 classes at Selma High School to help educate them about the Sikh community. The coalition wants to increase awareness, following the May 5 beating of an 82-year-old Sikh man in Fresno. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has called the assault a hate crime. Here, Kaur sits at teacher Alison Sickler’s desk as students write about what they learned from Kaur’s presentation." (Source: The Selma Enterprise)

Eliminating stereotypes through education

June 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In the wake of last month’s attack on 82-year-old Piara Singh in Fresno, California, the Sikh Coalition provided awareness presentations to ten classes at nearby Selma High School. The school’s principal, Mark Babiarz, discusses why it was important: “We need to educate others outside the community of Selma about the many contributions that the Sikh community makes to Selma, the state of California and throughout the nation. Education is the key to eliminating stereotype bias and ignorance about any culture.” […]

Categories: Education • Tags: California, Fresno, Mark Babiarz, Selma, Selma High School, Sikh Coalition, Simran Kaur

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Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi (Photo source: Sikh Coalition)

Picture of the Day: Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi

May 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Tomorrow, Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, one of the few Sikh Americans who has received an exemption to serve in the US military with his articles of faith intact, will be testifying in support of allowing Sikhs to serve in the US military without requiring a special exception to grooming requirements. From the Sikh Coalition: This Friday, May 31, at 1:30 EST, Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, a Bronze Star Medal recipient, will testify before the United States Commission on Civil Rights […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Picture of the Day • Tags: Bronze Star Medal, Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, Sikh Coalition, United States Commission on Civil Rights, US Army, US military

Punjab Singh was severely wounded during the mass shooting at a Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, last August. He has been in a long-term care facility ever since. Six other Sikhs were killed and one police officer was also severely wounded. (Photo source: Sikh Coalition)

“I have never been in the presence of someone so holy in all of my life.”

May 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Holly Sennett, a speech-language pathologist, writes about her patient Punjab Singh, who was severely wounded during the mass shooting at a Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, last August. He has been in a long-term care facility ever since: Punjab Singh traveled all over the world to share spiritual truths. He has taught about the oneness of all of life and the need to love and forgive. He was a visiting congregational leader on this August 5th day at the Oak […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Profiles, Reflections • Tags: Holly Sennett, Oak Creek, Punjab Singh, Sikh Coalition, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Wisconsin

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"Classroom Illustration in 'Royal Falcon' by Jessi Kaur. Photo © Courtesy IIGS Inc." (Source: sikhism.about.com)

What do social studies textbooks say about Sikhism?

May 21, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh Coalition is surveying the content of social studies textbooks used in K-12 curricula across the country for representations of Sikhism or the Sikh people. To that end, they have asked for public assistance in completing this inventory: …we are asking you to look through your child’s social studies textbook and find any mention of Sikhs or Sikhism. It does not matter if the information is true or false. We want to know EVERY mention of Sikhs in these […]

Categories: Education, Literature • Tags: Sikh Coalition, social studies, textbooks

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Scene from "Neel" by David Woo (source: YouTube)

US DoJ settles with Georgia school district in case of bullied Sikh student

May 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In Georgia, the DeKalb County School District in Stone Mountain recently reached a settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice in the case of a Sikh student who was harassed and bullied in a middle school in their district: The complaint said school officials did nothing to help the boy, who had allegedly been subjected to verbal and physical harassment because of his Sikh faith. According to the complaint, a student had tried to cut the boy’s hair, he […]

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: bullying, Civil Rights Act of 1964, David Woo, DeKalb County School District, Georgia, Neel, Sikh Coalition, Stone Mountain, Title IV, United States Department of Justice

Hate-motivated attack on Piara Singh emphasizes need for tracking

May 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After yet another hate crime against a Sikh American — this time on an 82-year-old man in Fresno, California — Simran Kaur of the Sikh Coalition raises the issue of the absence of tracking by the FBI of hate crimes against Sikhs: You read that right. Although Sikhs continue to experience hate crimes because of their distinct religious identity, the FBI has no distinct category to track such crimes. While hate crimes against other racial and religious groups are tracked, […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Resources • Tags: California, FBI, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Form 1-699, Fresno, hate crimes, Piara Singh, Sikh Coalition, Simran Kaur

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Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in Jackson, Mississippi. (source: Google)

Celebrating Vaisakhi in Jackson, Mississippi

April 19, 2013 by American Turban Guest Contributor

Alex DiBlasi and Alexa Altman are a pair of writers who left their lives in NYC to go on a cross-country adventure to “see what it’s all about.” A friend and colleague, Alex is also a committed civil rights advocate with the Sikh Coalition. During their travels, Alex and Alexa recently visited the Gurdwara in Jackson, Mississippi, to join the local Sikh community in their commemoration of Vaisakhi (one of the most significant celebrations on the Sikh calendar). Below, Alex […]

Categories: Events, Profiles, Reflections • Tags: Alex DiBlasi, Alexa Altman, Baisakhi, Jackson, Mississippi, Sikh Coalition, Vaisakhi

"Kirty Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Namit Satara plan an upcoming trip to Washington D.C. for members of the Sikh Junior Coalition." (credit: Jo Piazza | The Wall Street Journal)

Sikh Coalition program empowers Sikh youth to tackle challenges

April 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

An article in The Wall Street Journal describes the Junior Sikh Coalition, a Sikh youth group in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area organized by the Sikh Coalition to develop leadership skills among young Sikhs and to take on issues such as school bullying: “When we were alone it was really hard,” said Rajan Kaur, a 17-year-old from Morristown, N.J. “But, when we are together we feel like we can accomplish anything.” When I was a young student, I was often […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Profiles • Tags: bullying, Connecticut, Gurwinder Singh, Junior Sikh Coalition, Kirty Singh, Namit Satara, New Jersey, New York, Rajan Kaur, Sikh Coalition, Wall Street Journal

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Sikh Coalition

Tracking anti-Sikh hate crimes is a needed first step

Eliminating stereotypes through education

Picture of the Day: Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi

“I have never been in the presence of someone so holy in all of my life.”

US DoJ settles with Georgia school district in case of bullied Sikh student

Hate-motivated attack on Piara Singh emphasizes need for tracking

Celebrating Vaisakhi in Jackson, Mississippi

Sikh Coalition program empowers Sikh youth to tackle challenges