Sikh American Organization More Active on French Ban, Hate Crimes and Education Issues Washington, DC – Over the last several days, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), the oldest national Sikh American civil rights organization, has increased its legislative efforts at state and federal levels. SMART’s efforts have included securing signatures to a congressional letter regarding the French ban on religious articles of faith, organizing the invocation at the Virginia State Senate and testifying at the Maryland General Assembly regarding hate crimes legislation. “The efforts of our staff and volunteers over the last several days helps demonstrate that more Sikh Americans are energized and involved at all levels of government,” said SMART National Director Preetmohan Singh. “We look forward to expanding our efforts so that our community is even more engaged in legislative efforts and civil society.” During the last week, SMART staff and volunteers contacted several members of the U.S. House of Representatives to urge them to sign on to a letter to the French government expressing concern about the possible ban of religious articles of faith, including the Sikh turban, in public schools. The letter, initiated by Congressmen Mike Honda (D-CA) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), was signed by over 45 members of the US House of Representatives. SMART worked collaboratively in this effort with a number of groups including the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs, and Voices for Freedom. On Wednesday, February 11 a SMART representative will testify at the Maryland General Assembly tomorrow in support of amending the hate crime provisions in the state of Maryland. The revised legislation would expand the prohibition against damaging property of places of worship, which currently includes only churches or synagogues, to include any place of worship. The bill would also expand the protected categories of the existing Maryland hate crimes law to ensure that all individuals targeted by hate violence are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Finally, last week, SMART helped organize Sikhs in the Washington, DC metro region to attend the Sikh prayer offered as invocation prior to the convening of the Virginia State Senate on February 3. The traditional opening prayer, conducted in Punjabi and English, was organized in partnership with the Guru Nanak Foundation of Hampton Roads, VA. The prayer was preceded by a breakfast for elected officials prepared by the Sikh community of Richmond, VA. Several elected officials attended the breakfast and were joined by approximately 25 members of the Sikh community in Virginia state capital building. SMART thanks the management of Guru Nanak Foundation, the local Richmond Sikh community and especially Mrs. Jagdish Singh for their efforts in making this a successful event. According to Mr. Singh, “The prayer and breakfast were successful in exposing elected officials and non-Sikhs to the presence of the Sikh American community in Virginia and we are committed to expanding these proactive efforts.”
