Take Action and Attend! Senate Hearing on Hate Crimes and Domestic Extremism

On Wednesday, September 19, 2012, a hearing entitled, “Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism,” will be held before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). Following the tragic shooting in Oak Creek last month, a diverse group of more than 150 organizations, led by the Sikh Coalition, requested a Senate hearing on hate crimes and domestic extremism. Government officials, experts, and Harpreet Singh Saini, a Sikh who lost his mother in the Oak Creek shooting, will testify at the hearing. We strongly urge all those in the Washington D.C. area to attend this hearing! It is critical that the Senators conducting this hearing see a room filled with Sikhs so they are aware of how important this issue is to our community. Your attendance will give strength to the Sikh American community and make a lasting impression on the United States Congress. Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights “Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism” DATE: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 TIME: 02:45 PM EST ROOM: Hart 216 At approximately 4:30pm (immediately after the hearing) there will be a press conference outside of the hearing room, leading civil rights and interfaith organizations that have spent the past decade working on community and policy challenges pertaining to hate crimes, will highlight reactions to the hearing and outlining next steps. Please spread the word to your friends and family and urge them to attend a the hearing. You attendance will make all the difference! If you are not in the Washington D.C. area, watch the hearing live here and tweet your thoughts and comments from the hearing using #antihate

Join us at the SALDEF National Gala in Washington, DC, on Saturday, October 6, 2012 for an evening of reflection and empowerment.  This year”s Gala, “Chardhi Kala: The Sikh American Spirit”, will include a dedication to the Oak Creek Community as well as a perspective on the over 100 years that Sikh Americans have been in this country.

We are pleased to announce that Valarie Kaur will be receiving our Youth Leadership Award this year.

Valarie Kaur is an award-winning filmmaker, civil rights advocate, and interfaith organizer.  A third-generation Sikh American, she is the founding director of Groundswell, a non-profit initiative at Auburn Seminary that mobilizes faith communities in bold collective action. In response to the tragedy in Oak Creek, WI, Groundswell organized thousands to send letters of support to Sikh families, call upon the FBI to track anti-Sikh hate crimes, and lead college campuses to respond to Oak Creek through storytelling and service projects as part of the President’s Interfaith Campus Challenge.

In addition, Valarie and her partner Sharat Raju have been telling the stories of Oak Creek to the American public through writing, reporting, filmmaking, and speaking on national media.  Their response is a continuation of more than a decade of work in support of civil rights and human dignity for Sikhs as well as African-American, Latino, and LGBTQ communities. Their award-winning films “Divided We Fall” and “American Made” about Sikh Americans after 9/11 have reached tens of thousands in more than 200 U.S. cities. Valarie studied religion and law at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School and Yale Law School.  As fellows at Yale Law School, Valarie and Sharat direct the Yale Visual Law Project and train students in the art of storytelling and advocacy.

Book your travel today! The Grand Hyatt Hotel is nearly sold-out.  Call 202-582-1234 and reference SALDEF for discounted room rates.

Free child care onsite and discounted parking available.

to reserve your seat

See Pictures and Learn More about last year”s sold-out gala

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Victory for California—School Curriculum and Workplace Discrimination Bills Signed into Law! SB 1540 and AB 1964 were signed by Governor Brown on Saturday, September 8th, marking a monumental victory for Sikhs! With the final push throughout the month of August, SALDEF and other Sikh groups have been advocating for the passage of SB 1540, a bill intended to revise and update K-12 History/Social Science curriculum in California schools.  With the support of local community efforts, SALDEF was able to send over 2,500 physically signed letters urging Governor Brown to sign the bill. The passage of this bill now requires the state Board of Education to consider a new history framework for schools that the governor said will include “the role and contributions of the Sikh community in California.” AB 1964, the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, drafted by the Sikh Coalition s is designed to prevent job discrimination based on religion and promote equal employment opportunities for all Californians. Governor Brown was quoted saying “This bill, AB 1964, makes it very clear that wearing any type of religious clothing or hairstyle, particularly such as Sikhs do, that that is protected by law and nobody can discriminate against you because of that,” at a rally of the North American Punjabi Assn. on the steps of the Capitol on the day of signing. One Month Anniversary Passes as Oak Creek, WI Stays in Thoughts and Prayers As just over a month has passed since the Wisconsin Shooting at the Oak Creek Gurdwara, all are not out of harms way. Out of the four injured victims, Bhai Punjab Singh, who was shot in the face by Wade Page, is the lone victim that remains in the hospital. Fortunately, his condition has improved from critical to serious as he no longer requires mechanical support to breathe. Amarjit Kaur was treated and released the same day of the shootings. Santokh Singh, who was shot once in the chest, was in the hospital for just over a week after the shooting but was released in good condition. Lt. Brian Murphy remained in the hospital for just over 2 weeks, but was released under his own power on August 22, 2012. SikhVOTE Campaign Launched Nationwide, Make Your Voice Heard! SALDEF announced the launch of the SikhVOTE campaign earlier this year in an effort to increase the number of Sikh Americans registered to vote in the US. According to some projections, less than 30% of Sikh Americans are registered to vote, and ensuring that our voices are heard in this electionis a priority.  As part of the campaign, SALDEF hosted a Presidential Town Hall in July, and SikhVOTE volunteers have begun their 10 week campaign plans to assist with election processes, register individuals to vote, enhance voter education and create forums to emphasize civic engagement. Youth volunteers are going to Gurdwaras and other local events in order to register voters. Please contact SikhVOTE2012@saldef.org to find out how you can get involved for your local area! Houston Police Academy Learns about Sikhs and Sikhism SALDEF Regional Director, Bobby Singh, conducted a training to educate 74 officers in Houston, TX on August 9th.  The training provided information on Sikh theology, the significance of the Sikh articles of faith, the importance of diversity, information on the local and national Sikh populations, community issues with law enforcement, and the Wisconsin tragedy. The training was conducted for cadets in the Houston Police Academy, and included a viewing of SALDEF’s training video On Common Ground. The interactive session ended with an informative question-answer session dialogue around common misconceptions of Sikh Americans and law enforcement. If you are interested in SALDEF providing training for your local law enforcement via LEPP, please contact us. SALDEF Conducts Law Enforcement Cultural Diversity Trainings Across the Northeast On August 21st and 23rd, SALDEF representatives presented to representatives from a variety of local and federal law enforcement agencies in Boston, MA.  The audience included representatives from the Department of Justice – Community Relations Services, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and local law enforcement.  The training, entitled Building Cultural Competency: Arab, Muslim and Sikh Americans, provided information on the Sikh faith and theology, as well as the challenges facing Sikh Americans. The presentation included the viewing of SALDEF’s training video On Common Ground. Call for Fall 2012 SALDEF Internship Opportunities The SALDEF Internship Program offers Sikh American youth rare opportunities for political advocacy and leadership development. The program educates students on issues of civil rights, public policy, and the legislative process. Students will gain practical experience in community organizing, research and writing, legal issues, political action, and educational outreach. SALDEF is looking for interns in the Washington D.C. and Los Angeles offices. Students exhibiting strong writing/communication skills, strong work ethic, and computer skills are highly encourage to apply; all majors welcome. Applications for Fall Semester will be accepted on a rolling basis, however early applications will receive preference. Applications should be sent to internship@saldef.org SALDEF National Gala: An Evening of Refection and Empowerment In the spirit of Chardhi Kala (high spirits), we will honor the memory of those who lost their lives and recognize the heroes who were born from the great tragedy in Wisconsin.  Additionally, we will give perspective on the over one hundred years that Sikh Americans have been in this country – the struggles, the achievement, and the work ahead. Please join us for an evening of reflection and empowerment at the SALDEF National Gala on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. For more information, click here. Upcoming Events:

Blogged by Jasleen Kaur I was sitting on my cousin’s couch in her beautiful Geneva apartment. I could hear the noises of the annual Lake Geneva Festival from her living room window. I was relaxing, about to have dinner. Then I got a few text messages from friends back in the States. Turn on CNN right now. There’s been a shooting at a Gurdwara. A shooting at a Gurdwara? In-fighting was my first thought. I turned on CNN. This was not in-fighting. This was something much more serious. It was like the morning of 9/11 all over again. I remember I was just in 5th grade, but everything stopped. My brother and I didn’t go to school. My mom and dad took the day off. We were glued to the TV, as I was glued to CNN on August 5, 2012. As the day wore on, the accuracy of CNN improved in their representation of Sikhs and the narrative of the shooting. Though Don Lemon cautioned the characterizing the incident as a ‘hate crime,’ police eventually admitted that it would be investigated as an act of domestic terrorism. Facts are facts. And the fact here was that a man, Wade Michael Page, targeted a peaceful community at their place of worship out of pure ignorance and hate. This story is not new. This motive is not new. Different time, different place, different perpetrator, more victims. But what now? The hate crimes we’ve all seen take place over the last decade were never on such a large scale. Maybe that’s why CNN paid attention to Sikh Americans this time. Numbers. But what about Fox? What about your local Channel 4 news? Most Americans may still have no idea what happened. CNN and Huffington Post were exceptions to the norm. However, Wisconsin was a wake up call. Our efforts as a community, Sikh organizations’ efforts, though hard fought, need renewal and revival. We are reminded that there still exists ignorance, violent ignorance that can strike at any time. I was abroad during those intense two weeks that followed August 5, but from my international perch I was able to observe the surge in volunteers and activists organize around the tragedy in hopes of remembering the lives lost and reminding us all of the work yet to be done to create a space for the Sikh community in America. What I fear is the fading of such passion. Sikh Americans can come together in reactionary response, but what about focusing on preemptive education? As a member of the SikhLEAD’s first Leadership Development Class, I am forever reminded of the need for leaders, for educators, for activists, to continue critical work in educating both our community and our neighbors so that violence in the form of 9/11, Wisconsin, and all the hate crimes that took place in between, cease to be an option for Americans ignorant of their fellow citizens. This is when I remember LDP – Leadership Development Program – hosted by SALDEF’s SikhLEAD program. I am reminded that I had the fortunate opportunity to see the passion and ambition of sixteen young individuals who are striving to do something good for their own communities and the Sikh community. I am even more encouraged that in October 2012 will mark the incoming of another class of such young activists. This is the start of change. Wisconsin and the sentiments it awakened will not be forgotten.

In front of the Capitol!

America is often hailed as the melting pot of the world as people from around the world converge here to form the American identity. While this is largely true, all too often, geographic discrepancies lead to social insulation which creates regional microcosms of culture and identity. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I had always been under the impression that I had been well exposed to different cultures as the region has some of the greatest ethnic diversity in the country. This past summer in Washington DC taught me otherwise as I came to learn that cultural identity goes beyond heritage and is also contingent on people’s geographical and regional backgrounds. Getting to know people from all across the country exposed me to cultures unbeknownst to me and showed me that there is a tremendous amount of diversity within the country and also within the individual religious, ethnic, and social groups that make up our population. It is known that Washington DC is a politically powerful place but often overlooked is the district’s social prowess. It brings together the cultures, ideas, and beliefs of people from across the country and throws them into a 68 square mile area. If America is the melting pot of the world, Washington DC is the smoldering center of that pot, constantly bubbling from the heat of political exchange.

With SALDEF Intern, Manjot

Before coming to DC I had come across the adage, “If you need a friend in Washington, get a dog.” I didn’t know what to expect in regards to meeting people and making friends. Although I came across some lovely dogs, I’m happy to say that the adage didn’t hold true for me as I was able to meet some amazing people and make even more amazing friends. While politics was omnipresent and the election year made for an especially bitter political discourse, I found people to be generally open and receptive to conversation, making socializing a pleasant ordeal. My time in DC was not only a socially exposing experience but also an intellectually and professionally revealing one. What made my stay in DC exceptionally memorable was the SALDEF staff and my fellow SikhLEAD interns. If you’ve read this far I’m glad to know I haven’t bored you to sleep. I’ll end with saying that interning in the Capitol was a truly fantastic experience, and I would urge my fellow college students with an interest in politics to consider doing so. I applied on a whim and am extremely glad I did because the time I spent in Washington DC will be something I will remember and cherish for a long long time. -Maninder