SALDEF Announces Two Awardees for 2010 National Gala

SALDEF Honors Civil Rights Leader and Oregon State Representative

SALDEF is pleased to announce the first two awardees to be recognized at the 2010 SALDEF National Gala to be held in Washington D.C. on October 16, 2010.  We will honor Mr. Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) and Oregon Speaker of the House Dave Hunt for their exceptional efforts in furthering civil rights.

Wade Henderson, President and CEO of LCCR
Dorothy Height Coalition Building Award

This award is presented to individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership and collaborative efforts to achieve equality for all. Mr. Henderson is the President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation”s premier civil rights coalition. Mr. Henderson is also the Joseph L. Rauh Professor of Public Interest at the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law. Mr. Henderson attended Howard University and received his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law. Mr. Henderson began his national career with the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union and was Director of the NAACP”s Washington bureau. Mr. Henderson is well known for his expertise on a wide range of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights issues. He works principally in the areas of civil rights enforcement; voting rights; public education reform; fair housing policy; immigration policy reform; media and telecommunication policy; economic and political empowerment for people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and the poor.

Dave Hunt, Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
Dalip Singh Saund Legislative Leadership Award

This award recognizes the contributions of an elected official in supporting the Asian American community. The award is named after the Honorable Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian American elected to the U.S. Congress. Speaker Hunt authored legislation that overturned the ban on Sikh Americans and other individuals of faith who wear religious garb from teaching in Oregon public schools. Speaker Hunt is serving in his fourth term in the Oregon House of Representatives. After being elected in 2002, Speaker Hunt was elected by his Democratic colleagues as Majority Leader in 2006, and in 2009 he was elected Speaker of the House. Additionally, since 2001, Speaker Hunt has been employed as Executive Director of the Columbia River Channel Coalition and the Association of Pacific Ports, working to enhance trade and job opportunities.

Please join us in honoring these remarkable individuals through an evening of celebration, culture and achievement on October 16, 2010.

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Today marks the 10th anniversary of a landmark bill protecting the free exercise of religion.  The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) was signed in 2000 by President Bill Clinton. This law addresses two areas where conflicts between government and religion often arise: land use and those confined to government institutions such as prisons. The passing of this law directly benefited Sikhs; in Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Yuba City vs. County of Sutter the judge found that Sutter County had violated RLUIPA and upheld the constitutionality of RLUIPA’s land use provisions, allowing the gurdwara in Yuba City, California to be built. The law forbids state and local governments from imposing a substantial burden on the free exercise of religion in cases of land use restrictions and institutions such as prisons, hospitals and group homes, unless they can demonstrate that imposition of such a burden is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling government interest. In a report on the 10th anniversary released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department noted that RLUIPA “has had a positive impact on protecting the religious freedom of a wide range of faith groups, and had a particularly significant impact protecting the religious freedom of minorities.” The Department reported that: •    It has opened 51 RLUIPA land use investigations, filed seven lawsuits, filed 10 amicus briefs, and intervened in 71 lawsuits to defend RLUIPA’s constitutionality. •    Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist land use cases made up a disproportionate number of its RLUIPA investigations —13 times their representation in the population. •    Half of its land use investigations involving Christians have involved racial or ethnic minorities. •    Of the 18 land use matters involving Muslims it has reviewed, eight have been opened since May of this year. When private lawsuits are factored in, the report states that “thousands of individuals and institutions from a wide range of faith traditions” have been actively protected by RLUIPA in its 10 years of existence. RLUIPA was introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Charles Canady, R-Fla., and co-sponsored by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Chet Edwards, D-Texas. It was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. The measure passed Congress on July 27, 2000, and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 22, 2000.  In signing the bill, Clinton thanked members of the coalition for the “central role they played in crafting the legislation.” The law was challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 in Cutter v. Wilkinson. The case reached the Supreme Court after members of Satanist, Wicca and other non-mainstream religions sued Ohio‘s corrections department, claiming its officials denied them opportunities to gather for worship or use particular religious ceremonial items. The High Court ruled unanimously that the section of RLUIPA dealing with prisoners does not violate the Establishment Clause. “RLUIPA … protects institutionalized persons who are unable freely to attend to their religious needs and are therefore dependent on the government’s permission and accommodation for exercise of their religion,” wrote Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for the Court.

RALEIGH, NC – September 21, 2010:  A Sikh American man in North Carolina who practices the Sikh faith was denied a job because of his religion and race – a violation of federal and state civil rights laws – according to a federal lawsuit filed today by Public Justice and its co-counsel, Winslow Wetsch, PLLC and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. The complaint alleges that Durham-based M.M. Fowler, Inc., which owns and operates the Family Fare Convenience Store chain, denied employment to Surjit Singh Saund because he is a Sikh and wears a turban and beard. Saund, a U.S. citizen who has worked in other convenience stores for nearly eight years, applied for a store operator position with Fowler in early 2008. Saund was qualified for the position, but the company refused to hire him because of its alleged grooming policy, even after Saund explained that his turban and beard are required by his religion.  The company told Saund that it would hire him, but only if he first removed his turban, cut his hair, and shaved his beard. “I came from India to find a better life for me and my family in America, and I was looking for a better job.” said Saund.  “M. M. Fowler wanted me to choose between a job and my religion.  What they did was not right, and is not allowed in America.” “Nothing about Mr. Saund’s turban and beard would interfere with his ability to run the cash register and manage a convenience store,” said Victoria Ni of Oakland, CA, a Public Justice Senior Attorney representing Saund. “M. M. Fowler had a duty to try to accommodate Mr. Saund’s religious beliefs.  It didn’t even try.” Public Justice’s lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, alleges that Fowler violated civil rights laws when it refused to hire Saund and make accommodations to its alleged grooming policy to allow Saund to work for the company with a turban and beard. Fowler has approximately 70 convenience stores, located throughout North Carolina, which offer gasoline at self-service fuel dispensers. Kavneet Singh, a Board Member and Managing Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy group, said his fellow adherents face ignorance and intolerance daily, especially since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which unleashed a torrent of discrimination. Although Sikhism is often confused with Islam, Sikhism and Islam are entirely unrelated religions. “M.M. Fowler’s actions are another example of the widespread and serious problem of workplace discrimination against Sikh Americans,” said Mr. Singh.  “Every day, Sikh Americans face employment discrimination, hate crimes, school bullying, and harassment due to misconceptions about the Sikh identity. Religious intolerance is un-American, and even at a time of economic crisis, we must make sure to not lose sight of the ideals that our country was founded on.” In accordance with Sikhism, Mr. Saund, 59, has not cut his hair since birth, and has covered his hair since he was a young boy.  Although he earned a college degree in chemistry in his native India, Saund could not find white-collar work after he relocated to the U.S.  Since 2002, he has worked in convenience stores in New York and North Carolina. The case is Saund v. M. M. Fowler, Inc., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. To read the complaint, click here.

Image attempting to link Sikhs to terrorists

SALDEF has identified a disturbing trend on Facebook, the world’s most popular social networking site.  Forty-five (45) Anti-Sikh or Anti-Turban pages are currently reaching a combined audience of over 3 million individuals. While some of these pages may have been created as attempts at humor, they have serious implications for the global Sikh community. The pages contain offensive wall posts, pictures attempting to link Sikhs to terrorism, and even imagery of Sikh Gurus and Sikh historical figures.  Besides these pages being hurtful to the sentiments of the Sikh community, SALDEF is concerned about such pages leading to possible bias or violence against Sikhs. Click here to sign the petition to Facebook. Among the most disturbing and potentially dangerous comments, some examples include: •    turban wearing arabs are pleb f%^*!…. f*#$ off back to the desert out of our countries… we dont like you and you stink out taxis and elevators •    stupid a** diaper heads, and sand ni$#*@s, GO HOME WE WERE HERE FIRST •    IN MY HOUSE ALL TURBANS ARE SHOT ON SIGHT Click here to view the complete list of inappropriate pages. SALDEF has been in contact with Facebook and discussed the effect that these pages have on the global Sikh community. Our efforts have resulted in around a dozen pages – those that are most offensive or endorse violence against Sikhs or turban-wearing individuals – being removed. However, there is still work to be done. To ensure the voice of the community is heard, and that action is taken on the remaining pages, SALDEF encourages community members to sign a petition addressed to Facebook and report the offensive pages to them as well. “The majority of the challenges we face in this country – whether related to racial profiling, hate crimes, or school bullying – result from misconceptions about the Sikh identity and faith,” said Jasjit Singh, SALDEF Associate Executive Director. “Misinformation reaching such a broad audience undermines our educational efforts. It is crucial that we take measures to get these pages removed and ensure that accurate informational sources about Sikhs and Sikhism are available to the public.” We are grateful to vigilant community members that brought these disturbing pages to SALDEF’s attention. Take Action: 1.  Sign the Petition to Facebook 2.  Report the offensive pages to Facebook – visit each page and click ‘report this page’ 3.  Remain vigilant – Notify SALDEF of additional Facebook pages and Report any incidents you or your children face Previous examples of Media Engagement by SALDEF: •    SALDEF Debates Towelhead  Author and Screenwriter (YouTube) •    Golf Digest Apologizes to Sikh Community for Irreverent Display of Image of Sikh Guru •    Radio Salaam Namaste Apologizes to Sikh American Community (YouTube)

SALDEF is pleased to announce that US Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Thomas E. Perez will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2010 SALDEF National Gala to be held in Washington D.C. on October 16, 2010.  Mr. Perez is the head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the top ranking Civil Rights Attorney in the country. Mr. Perez was nominated by President Obama to serve as the AAG on October 8, 2009. Since then, Mr. Perez has worked to restore and transform the Division, in the spirit of its traditional role as the “conscience of the nation,” to further fulfill the promise of our nation’s most treasured laws – advancing equal opportunity, leveling the playing field, and protecting the rights of all. Prior to his nomination, he served as the Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation – an agency that safeguards critical consumer and worker protections – and was a principal architect of a sweeping reform package to address his state’s foreclosure crisis. In 2002, he became the first Latino elected to the Montgomery County Council, serving with distinction until 2006. “The U.S. Department of Justice has been one of our strongest allies since 9/11.  The Civil Rights Division, in particular, has taken initiative to address Sikh American challenges by coordinating regular interagency meetings,” said Manjit Singh, Chairman, SALDEF.  “We are honored to have AAG Perez deliver the keynote address at our 2010 National Gala and look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Justice Department to address the array of challenges facing post 9/11 communities such as ours.” Learn more about the National Gala and buy tickets Read more about Assistant Attorney General Perez For Sponsorship Opportunities, click here

SALDEF commends Seattle law enforcement; Urges Sikh Americans to stay vigilant Last week, a Sikh American convenience store clerk in Seattle, WA, was brutally assaulted and called a member of Al-Qaida.  SALDEF commends King County prosecutors for charging the alleged assailant, Mr. Brock Stainbrook. with committing a hate crime in addition to the charges of malicious harassment and fourth-degree assault.  He is currently being held by police on $150,000 bail pending trial. READ MORE: Seattle man attacked shopkeeper, calls victim a terrorist The victim was assaulted, told he was not an American, and called a terrorist because he wore a dastaar (Sikh turban) in accordance with his Sikh faith. After initially striking Mr. S (identity kept confidential), Mr. Stainbrook yelled at the unidentified Sikh American man, “You’re not even American, you’re al-Qaida. Go back to your country.” According to sources, Stainbrook has two prior convictions for two counts of fourth-degree assault and criminal trespass.  Stainbrook is being held on a $150,000 bail. With anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise within the past several months, SALDEF commends Seattle area law enforcement for investigating and recognizing this attack as a hate crime. “These crimes based on the perceived race, ethnicity, or religion of the victim cannot be tolerated.  Unfortunately, the anti-Muslim bias and nativist feelings that motivates these attacks are based on a premise that runs counter to the fundamental freedoms and liberties that our nation was founded upon,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh in a statement to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “All Americans must be free to practice their faith without fear, and this strong action by Seattle prosecutors will go a long way in sending a message to individuals that hate will not be tolerated.” According to recent FBI Census statistics, anti-religious and anti-race motivated crimes and incidents have made up to be the majority cause of hate crimes.  To read more information about what a hate crime is, please click here. SALDEF denounces the rise in anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment that has lead to this attack and others. SALDEF urges all Sikh Americans to immediately report any incidents of harassment, bullying or assault to SALDEF and your local authorities. If you or someone you know has been a victim of any racially motivated crime, please contact SALDEF directly toll free at 1.877.91SIKHS or via our Report an Incident Form. We all have a responsibility to ensure our freedom from harassment and discrimination.