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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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The bullying-hate crime link and the role of schools

September 17, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“When we think of how we might prevent the tragedy that occurred at the Sikh gurudwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, we must look to the harassment endured by Sikh-American children in schools,” said Assistant Attorney General, Thomas E Perez, at a bullying prevention conference in California. He was referring to the August 5 attack on a Wisconsin gurudwara in which six Sikh worshippers were killed. “Here in the Bay area, according to a 2010 survey, three quarters of Sikh-American boys […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Reflections, Reports/Studies • Tags: Bay Area Civil Rights Report 2010, bullying, California, Education, hate crimes, SB1540, Sikh Coalition, Texas, Thomas Perez

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U.S. Senate to hold hearing on hate crimes next week

September 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Next Wednesday, the Unites States Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing on hate crimes in Washington, D.C. The meeting will be chaired by US Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, who has a history of supporting the civil rights of religious minorities in this country. The hearing will bring to the national stage a discussion about domestic hate groups in this country. From the Sikh Coalition: (New York, New York) September 12, 2012 – In the wake of […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Politics • Tags: Dick Durbin, Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism, hearing, Oak Creek, Sikh Coalition, United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution Civil Rights and Human Rights, Wisconsin

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Meet and dine with American Turban at the Sikh Coalition’s 5K fundraiser

September 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Have you ever wondered: “Who is American Turban?” On Saturday, September 22, the Sikh Coalition is holding their “5K for the 5Ks” run/walk fundraising event, and I have just confirmed my attendance to support the great work by the Sikh Coalition in Sikh American civil rights. This is your chance to meet me! Even better, I will treat the individual who donates the most to dinner in the Bay Area! To qualify, donate to my 5K for the 5Ks page […]

Categories: American Turban, Civil Rights, Events • Tags: 5K for the 5Ks, California, San Francisco Bay Area, Sikh Coalition

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Picture of the Day: A new day for California’s Sikhs

September 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

At a rally at the California State Capitol on Saturday, Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills that would help combat discrimination particularly faced by Sikhs: the California Workplace Religious Freedom Act (AB1964) and the History-Social Science Framework (SB1540). Joined by Assembly Member Mariko Yamada, who introduced AB1964, and Dr. Onkar Bindra, who championed SB1540, the Governor ushered in a new day for Sikh Californians, and set a precedent for such legislation across the country. Both laws take effect on January […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Picture of the Day, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, Dr. Onkar Bindra, History-Social Science Framework, Jerry Brown, Mariko Yamada, Sacramento, SB1540, Sikh Coalition, Simran Kaur, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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Ask CA Governor Jerry Brown to sign laws that impact Sikhs

August 30, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On blog The Langar Hall, Sundari describes two important bills currently on the desk of California Governor Jerry Brown. These proposals are of direct importance to California’s Sikh community. Public support is needed to convince him enact the bills into law by the end of September: AB1964 – Workplace Religious Freedom Act: SIGN THE PETITION If this bill moves forward and becomes law, it will sharply reduce job discrimination against Sikhs and other religious minorities and guarantee equal employment opportunity […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: AB1964, California, Jerry Brown, SB1540, Sikh Coalition, Social science, The Langar Hall, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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Reader: Education is pivotal to combat prejudice and discrimination

August 22, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Navjot Kaur, educator and author (who has been featured on this blog before), responds to yesterday’s post “The Oak Creek, WI shooting: education is needed, but so is pursuit of justice“: I agree with the article as a whole yet I still believe education has a pivotal role to play in opening mindsets to differences. When studies show that children learn to stereotype and form prejudice as early as two years of age, those ideas will only become more concrete with […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Politics • Tags: Education, hate crimes, Navjot Kaur, Oak Creek, Sikh Coalition, 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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Reader: Sikhs should abolish the turban

August 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A reader writes: SSakal – The question of the turban as an identification mark of a Singh/Sikh is the key. Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa and gave them 5 ritual markings to carry as an identification: K – Kes (long hair) K – Kanga (comb) K – Karah (bangle) K – Kashera (underwear) K – Kirpan (dagger) Here lies the Truth. The Guru has never dictated, advocated or commanded His followers to wear a sixth article: T – Turban D […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Sikhism • Tags: Dastar, Gurdwara, Guru Gobind Singh, hate crimes, hukamnama, Oak Creek, Rajdeep Singh, Sikh Coalition, Turban, Washington Post, Wisconsin

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Sikh Coalition

UPDATE: US Senate hate crime hearing tomorrow

The bullying-hate crime link and the role of schools

U.S. Senate to hold hearing on hate crimes next week

Meet and dine with American Turban at the Sikh Coalition’s 5K fundraiser

Reader: Education is pivotal to combat prejudice and discrimination

Recent tragedy in WI highlights need to pass proposed legislation

Reader: Sikhs should abolish the turban