In response to the divisive political rhetoric coming from our current administration, climate of uncertainty and tension, and significant increase in incidences of bias and hate, SALDEF has joined together with our local and national partners to arrange two Know Your Rights Forums. To further aid our local Sikh American communities in better understanding their rights and in identifying and forming relationships with their local law enforcement and government agencies, we were privileged to host these two successful Forums in both North Carolina and Massachusetts this past month.
On March 26, 2017, in Durham, North Carolina we partnered with the FBI, Durham Public School superintendent, Dept. of Justice’s Community Relations Service, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to address the Sangat’s questions about discrimination in the workplace and bullying at schools.
In Boston on April 2, 2017, the Sangat was able to engage with representatives from the U. S. Dept. of Justice’s Community Relations Services, Dept. of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, Massachusetts’ Commission Against Discrimination, and Massachusetts’ Office of the Attorney General to answer questions regarding hate crimes, employment discrimination, and safe traveling tactics.
If you feel your Sangat could benefit from a Know Your Rights Forum, please complete this form or contact satnam@saldef.org.
Also, please join us for the following Forums in Rochester, New York on April 23rd and Buffalo, New York on April 30th.
We would like to thank the Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina and the Boston Sikh Sangat for their partnership in holding these highly successful events and thank the Sangat across the country for your constant support that allows us to do this very important work!