The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) will be listening closely to President Biden’s first State of the Union address in hopes that he will discuss key topics pertinent to the Sikh Community.
Key topics include:
- Addressing hate crimes and harassment of members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, including the Sikh American community
- Addressing the threat of domestic terrorism and white nationalism, during what the Department of Homeland Security refers to as a “continued heightened threat environment.”
- Economic support of minority businesses and employees impacted by the pandemic and anti-Asian bias
“We hope the President makes a strong call for legislation to empower agencies to commit resources to counter the threat domestic terrorism and white nationalism imposes on minority institutions like Sikh gurdwaras (houses of worship). We also hope to hear a redoubled commitment to facilitate close communication and understanding between local law enforcement and the minority communities within their jurisdictions,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF.
“ More broadly, we hope the President uses his platform to speak strongly against the years-long, ongoing wave of hate confronted by AAPI communities including the Sikh American community in the United States. We stand in solidarity with our AAPI peers and hope to hear the President do so just as strongly.
“Finally, we will hope to hear about continued economic support for our communities. Minorities have disproportionately borne the brunt of the economic impact of three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, with AAPI communities in America being disproportionately employed in industries that were hardest hit. Various governors and mayors, like Governor Hochul of New York and Mayor Breed of San Francisco, have earmarked funds specifically to support their AAPI communities., We hope to hear the President advocate for the same policies at a national level. With the finish line in sight for the pandemic phase of COVID, now is the wrong time to cease offering support to our country’s most vulnerable.”