WASHINGTON, DC – Sikh Americans met on November 1, 2001 with DC Mayor Anthony Williams and DC Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi to thank them for their leadership and to discuss anti-Sikh intolerance incidents that have been occurring in the aftermath of September 11 terrorist attacks. The hour long meeting focused on Sikh concerns in the District of Columbia and the Mayor’s efforts to promote tolerance and combat discrimination against Sikh Americans. Sikh Americans were represented by local Sikh leaders, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) a Sikh civil-rights advocacy group, the Sikh American Association, and a Sikh Coalition member. The groups also expressed concern over potential discrimination in housing and employment areas against affected communities. Mayor Williams agreed to work closely with area Sikhs in the education and awareness training of all district employees, including law enforcement, public school, and public transit officials. The Mayor also expressed happiness about DC Police Chief Ramsey’s decision to open employment to Sikhs to the DC Police Department. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Mayor agreed to continue to work together with the Sikh American community, to protect its interests, and to proactively work with the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia to prevent hate crimes from occurring.
