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SALDEF and Seva Truck will be partnering to give back to the local community on Guru Nanak’s 550th Gurpurab!
The 7th annual DasvandhWeek has officially started! This year, they have a generous matching fund, which is expected to last another 48 hours, so please DONATE.
Please remember to communicate using the matching code DVWEEK19 at checkout. Single donations will be matched up to $250, until their matching fund runs out. DONATE now to make sure your donation is doubled!
You can also help SALDEF win the following prizes! Every single donation counts no matter how small!
Here’s to another successful DasvandhWeek!
Recent News
Before another shooting, let’s do these necessary things to stop hate
Pardeep Kaleka, writes an opinion article on the anniversary of the 11 Jewish worshippers who were killed and seven others who were injured by a gunman at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Kaleka “urges Americans to come together in care and compassion for Jewish communities across our country and advocate for real action to stop the scourge of hate.” In his call to action he asks for the United States to invest in education to teach our children about different cultures and about diversity from an early age. Also, he urges Americans to push our government to act and must advance the bipartisan Khalid Jabara-Heather Heyer NO HATE Act. Lastly, Kaleka requests his readers to look to their leaders, and to each other, to condemn prejudice and discrimination in all its forms.
The eagerly awaited film, “Guru Nanak, Founder of Sikhism, Life & Legacy,” was recently screened at the Regal Theater in Los Angeles, California. Director Jerry Krell added, “It was a great learning and a humbling experience for me to work on this film and I wanted the world to know about Guru Nanak.” The film also includes real people and their stories of how their “Sikh faith has entered their lives as a truck driver, a mayor, and a Grammy-nominated singer; and it shows how the image and ideals of the founding figure in the Sikh tradition is not just the stuff of history and legends but lives in the lives of people today.” It was announced that PBS will air the documentary on 200 TV stations across the U.S. in the coming months as Sikhs are celebrating the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism.
For San Diego Sikhs, a day to honor others — and introduce themselves
On Sunday, the Sikh Foundation of San Diego County will honor local leaders of a variety of faiths and backgrounds. During Sunday’s ceremony and dinner, awards will be given to individuals and organizations that exemplify Sikh values for example to Interfaith Community Services, The Red Cross, San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter, and Sheriff Bill Gore and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Why the largest gathering of Sikhs is coming to Yuba City
Around the first weekend of November, Yuba City, California is brimming with guests at their annual Sikh festival, Nagar Kirtan. This is the largest celebration of Sikhs in the United States, with usually more than 100,000 attendees. This celebration also marks the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Also, there are at least three featured attractions for people stopping by the Yuba City Sikh Festival: the fireworks show, the bazaar, and the parade.
Sikhs for Humanity step up to help feed those taking shelter from Kincaid Fire
Members of Sikhs for Humanity from throughout Northern California including Manteca served dinner to over 700 Kincade Fire emergency evacuation center residents in a temporary shelter set up at Marin County Fair Grounds in San Rafael, California. The meal was made possible by the help of all Northern California Gurudwaras known as Sikhs for Humanity (SFH). The shelter was set up by the Red Cross and Salvation Army to house individuals, families, including men, women, and children from mandatory fire evacuations throughout Sonoma County. Organizers noted those sheltered “appreciated delicious vegetarian food. It was very emotional and warm welcome and many eyes were seen wet with love and joy for the outpouring community support during these tough times.”
Sikh Studies international conference held at Hofstra
Dr. Balbinder Singh Bhogal, holder of the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies, and Dr. Francesca Cassio, holder of the Sardarni Harbans Kaur Chair in Sikh Musicology, organized a conference last weekend in commemoration of the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith. The conference had around two dozen attendees that discussed the inclusive vision of Guru Nanak and the impact of his words in the current era. Gurkamal Dadra, a student and anthropology major, commented that “Being a Sikh American, it was great to see the depth of the Sikh tradition in full display at the academic conference, which was incredibly stimulating and brought multiple perspectives to topics in a way that could only happen in an academic setting.
Opinion: Violent incidents show Ga. needs hate crimes law
Aasees Kaur, writes on the increase of hate crimes in Georgia and across the country. According to recent data by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the FBI and other leading agencies, hate speech and hate crimes have been on the rise with no sign of decrease in recent years. Kaur calls for an effective hate crime law to preventing discrimination. It must provide appropriate sentencing guidelines, ensure that law enforcement is recording critical information, and give communities the confidence they need to come forward and report when they feel unsafe or are attacked. She also mentions attacks on Sikhs through including the story of her brother, who was beaten with his jaw left broken, turban removed, hair intentionally cut and was left with multiple wounds across his face and upper body.
Alhambra’s Sikh community to get one last chance to fight development proposed on worship site
Those who worship at the Alhambra’s long-standing Sikh gurdwara will get one last chance to argue against a proposed mixed-use development which would see their place of worship razed. The gurdwara returned to the same space in Alhambra on a one-year lease followed by month-to-month renting. However, in June, property owner and developer Herald Lau received approval from the city Planning Commission to combine that property with adjacent parcels, raze the buildings and build a four-story commercial and residential condominium complex. On Monday, the City Council ordered the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing to consider revoking its June project approval. Gurdwara President Santokh Singh said his community is having a difficult time because they feel so tied to the site. Singh added that “In the Sikh religion, when a location becomes a gurdwara, the land is blessed…Even if the door is closed, people will still pray there. People are so emotionally attached.”
Are you interested in learning how Congress works? Is your aspiration to work in government? If so, apply to SALDEF’s SikhLEAD 2020 Summer Internship Program now!
Since 2011, SALDEF’s SikhLEAD Summer Internship Program has placed 78 interns with members of Congress, Federal Agencies, and civil rights organizations in Washington DC. Interns receive a $1,500 stipend and get a unique opportunity to make invaluable connections, build their resume, and gain practical experience.
“This is a learning experience, more so to learn about yourself and how you function as a person, your strengths, and your weaknesses, you should know that especially going into thinking about your career.”
— Simrnjit Seerha, SikhLEAD DC intern at Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL)
Over the years students have been placed at the White House, Senate and House offices, various Congressional Committees, Department of Justice, EEOC, and many more. The experiences of the SikhLEAD Alumni have allowed them to grow to become politicians, community leaders, lawyers, and much more. Begin your career with SALDEF, we have been helping students bridge education with practical work experience for many years. Find out more about the SikhLEAD program at www.sikhlead.org.
Placements are already available! Be the first to apply to ensure you get the internship you want! All internships are limited to availability and are on a first come first serve basis.
Start the journey to becoming a more effective change-maker at www.SikhLEAD.org today!
Washington DC – The Houston Police Department has joined a group of law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to allow religious minorities to wear clothes and other items important to their faith typically prohibited by strict uniform policies. Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo have been working together with SALDEF Regional Director Bobby Singh to ensure accommodations are provided to anyone looking to serve Houston’s Law Enforcement Agencies.
The potential change in policy comes in the wake of the tragic death of Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal last month, which inspired Chief Acevedo and the department to expedite the process of creating a permanent religious accommodation policy.
“Let’s not wait until we hire someone,” said Chief Acevedo in announcing his intention to work towards an accommodation. “Let’s send the message that we’re an inclusive department, and we’re doing it in his honor and memory.”
This exciting news comes after the successful collaboration between SALDEF and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department in 2015, to become the largest law enforcement department to date to allow Sikh Americans to serve as officers while keeping their articles of faith intact, including the dastaar (Sikh turban) and beard.
READ: Texas sheriff allows Sikh officers to wear beards, turbans (Washington Post)
“I want to commend Mayor Sylvester Turner and HPD Chief Art Acevedo for their progressive leadership where we continue to amplify that one does not have to choose between service and faith,” said SALDEF Regional Director Bobby Singh who has been leading this work on behalf of the Houston Sikh American community. Singh said, “Houston is among the most diverse major cities in the country and now the Houston Police Department is making a tremendous statement in being inclusive of all residents. We look forward to working with the Chief and Mayor on advancing this policy and creating history again, here in Texas.”
We encourage you to find out if your law enforcement agency has an accommodation policy so we can ensure that Sikh Americans are able to join law enforcement agencies nationwide, free from having to abandon their religious identity. Please email info@ saldef.org if you are interested in ensuring your state or local law enforcement has an accommodation policy.