Our Advocacy
SALDEF has protected the freedoms of hundreds of individuals across the nation. Whether it is successfully defending the rights of Sikh Americans to freely practice their faith without sacrificing their Sikh identity and/or serving as a resource and voice for the Sikh American community, SALDEF advocates on issues that not only affect the lives of Sikh Americans but all Americans. Our policy work includes lobbying on Capitol Hill, presenting at universities, working with federal agencies such as the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, and collaborating with our coalition partners.
As the nation’s oldest Sikh American advocacy organization, SALDEF is the first Sikh American organization within the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella civil rights group. An active participant member of LCCR’s Civil Rights Task Force, SALDEF works to pass effective civil rights legislation, including bills to end racial profiling and hate crimes legislation.
SALDEF also serves as the first Sikh American representative to the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), national advocates representing the Asian Pacific American Community.
By developing relationships with legislators and having regular meetings with members of Congress, SALDEF works to ensure the voice of the Sikh American community is heard on a national level.
With our roots in DC, SALDEF has developed a presence in the nation’s capital advocating for legislation that protects our community and voicing our concerns at problematic bills. In the past we have worked with peer organizations to support the passage of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, Safe Schools Improvement Act, and End Racial Profiling Act, as well as ensure that these pieces of legislation include language that safeguards the rights of Sikh American employees, students, and citizens.
To help accomplish our goals, SALDEF produces materials and research to help educate the Sikh American community about public policy. We create reports and briefings to help local and national legislators understand the interests of the Sikh American community. We help bring the voice of 700,000 Sikh Americans to the table. Our goal is to use this voice to promote an inclusive perspective on public policy.
