SALDEF Advocate 2015: Sikh Americans Start the Year Strong
SALDEF Signs On to Letter Urging Federal Investigation into Chapel Hill Shootings 
On February 13, SALDEF joined 150 civil rights, faith, and civic organizations, signing a letter, written by Muslim Advocates, to Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice to investigate the murder of three Muslim students Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha in Chapel Hill, N.C. as a federal hate crime. SALDEF’s Executive Director Jasjit Singh said, “We hope the DOJ will take a serious look at these murders and deem this a federal hate crime investigation, sending a clear message that hateful violence towards any community will not be tolerated in our nation irrespective of religion, race or beliefs.” SALDEF Speaks Out On Profiling 
On February 10, Executive Director Jasjit Singh joined representative Mike Honda (D-CA17), Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, Floyd Nori of APAICS, and Suman Raghunathan of SAALT, for a discussion hosted by the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). The event featured a screening of the documentary, A Flicker in Eternity: the coming of age story of Stanley Hayami who was wrongly incarcerated during World War II. The film was followed by a panel discussion “American Democracy: Eliminating Racial Profiling Today.” Jasjit Singh spoke about the effects of profiling on individuals, targeted communities, and how profiling weakens the fabric of American ideals. 
Sikh American PSA Featured at LA Clippers “Sikh Night” On January 3, 2015, the Sikh American Public Service Announcement—produced by SALDEF and funded through a generous donation from Comcast’s Center on Asian American Media—aired in Los Angeles’ Staples Center during the LA Clippers’ first “Sikh Night” event, a collaboration between the NBA Team and The Sikh Coalition. SALDEF extends a warm thanks to all of the organizers for airing the PSA. Introduce your neighbors to Sikh Americans today! SALDEF Speaker’s Bureau Member Conducts Law Enforcement Training at New Jersey State Police Academy 
On January 29, SALDEF Speaker’s Bureau Member Amman Singh Seehra and Kiran Kaur Gill, a graduate of SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program’s Train the Trainers conducted a Sikh awareness session for 109 training recruits and 10 training staff at the New Jersey State Police Training Academy in Sea Girt, N.J. Classroom materials included SALDEF curriculum and materials including Who are Sikhs Americans, Recommendations for Law Enforcement When Interacting with Sikh Americans, On Common Ground, and Turban Myths. Seehra and Gill received positive feedback from recruits, the Commandant, and staff, and were asked to come back and present to current troopers and PR staff at the State Police Headquarters later this year. 
WATCH: Multi-Faith Initiative Releases Video Featuring Sikh Americans Launched as a social media campaign, Faith Counts, a multi-faith initiative is devoted to promoting the value of faith in America. Its latest video feature includes an interview with SALDEF Executive Director Jasjit Singh on the values that all faith-based communities in America share. It also introduces the viewer to Sikh Gurdwara, D.C., and the local sangat. 
WATCH: Cartoonist Vishvajit Singh Continues His Fight Against Ignorance With New Film Vishvajit Singh, the Sikh American cartoonist now famous for fighting intolerance as the superhero Sikh Captain America, continues his quest with a new documentary, Red, White and Beard. Jasjit Singh, SALDEF’s Executive Director spoke to the International Business Times about the importance of Vishavjit’s work. OC Register Profiles Sikh Float Rider, Harjus Singh Sethi and His New Role 
Chapman University student Harjus Singh Sethi spent January 1, 2015 celebrating the New Year with Americans across the nation as one of 11 Sikh Americans on the first-ever Sikh Float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. The OC Register, Orange County’s local newspaper, profiled the aspiring Sikh American director and his mission to bring Sikh stories to the big screen. SALDEF Joins Supreme Court Fight for Religious Rights in Prisons In 2000, a bipartisan congress enacted a landmark civil rights law that gave prisoners religious rights, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which allows for peaceful religious practices. However, prisons don’t always honor these statues: Abdul Muhammad, an Arkansas inmate who practices Islam, was one such man who was not allowed to grow a ½ inch beard. Seeking his religious rights, he brought his case Holt vs. Hobbs, to the court system. Although he was denied in local and state courts, he appealed to the Supreme Court and was represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. SALDEF joined an Amicus Brief with the Anti-Defamation League and Quinn Emmanuel. On January 20, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Muhammad. “No religion is an island,” said Eric Rassbach, Deputy General Counsel for the Becket Fund. “This is not just a win for one prisoner in Arkansas, but a win for all Americans who value religious liberty.” 
SikhLEAD Summer Internship Deadline Closed for 2015 SALDEF has closed it’s application window for this year’s SikhLEAD Washington Internship Program. “We are so honored and excited to have received another group of very strong applications from across the United States. I look forward to meeting each of these young Sikh American leaders and getting to know many of them during their D.C. summer internship,” said SALDEF’s Education Director Jyotswaroop Kaur. “I’m also so proud and grateful to our strong SikhLEAD alumni network for raising awareness about the program through social media and Gurdwaras.” SALDEF will notify applicants through the Spring about their opportunities. SALDEF Brings Sikh American Voice to State of the Union and National News 
During his first State of the Union this year, President Obama addressed many issues facing the Sikh American community including discrimination, voting rights, and education. Executive Director Jasjit Singh offered a Sikh American point of view to NBC News. Ensure that these initiatives will continue for years to come. Support SALDEF with a financial contribution today.