September Advocate: Victory for California—School Curriculum and Workplace Discrimination Bills Signed into Law!

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: