Why Faith Counts

October Advocate: Why Faith Counts 

Exercise Your SikhVOTE on Tuesday, November 4

We encourage all Sikh Americans to participate in their respective local elections next Tuesday, November 4. Use The Voting Right Project’s Guide to Everything You Need to Know to Vote in the 2014 Election for any questions you may have on Election Day.

FOX News Offers Weak Apology After Remarks in Favor of Profiling On the September 20, 2014 episode of Fox News’ Cashin’ In, Fox News contributor Jonathan Hoenig, endorsed the profiling of Muslim Americans and condoned internment of the Japanese during World War II.  SALDEF Executive Director Jasjit Singh addressed Hoenig’s racist commentary in Talking Points Memo, Fox Panelist Wrongly Defends Muslim Profiling with WWII Japanese Camps.

SALDEF—a member of NCAPA, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans—also signed onto NCAPA’s letter to Fox Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, condemning Hoenig’s remarks and urging Fox to issue an apology and host a forum to discuss profiling in depth. Hoenig has since offered a weak apology to reverse his comments made on internment camps, but he did not address his Islamaphobic attitudes. SALDEF will continue to speak out against profiling on national media broadcasts.

Sikh American Community Joins #Faithcounts Campaign Representing the Sikh American community, SALDEF joined Faith Counts, a non-profit, interfaith organization made up of diverse religious groups who represent over 100 million Americans to promote the value of faith. “Faith Counts has a refreshingly simple message: faith is a good thing,” SALDEF ED Jasjit Singh said in a press statement appearing in Yahoo News. “We are drawn to the Faith Countscampaign because it reflects our belief in the tremendous societal value of all faiths, and are excited about Faith Counts‘ ability to reach, engage, and unite interfaith communities.”

SALDEF Keynotes Hate Crimes Conference in Chicago On October 20, SALDEF ED Jasjit Singh provided the keynote address to a group of over 150 government and law enforcement officials at a Hate Crimes Conference held at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The program, organized by Anti-Defamation League and the US Attorney’s Office, highlighted the need for continued dialogue on hate crimes prevention and reporting.  In his remarks, Jasjit Singh highlighted SALDEF and Stanford researchers Turban Myths report and discussed the Sikh American response to post-9/11 challenges.

SALDEF Signs Letter Demanding Justice for NYC Mom and Community SALDEF—alongside more than 50 civil rights organizations—signed an open letter to New York City Mayor Bill Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton in regards to the treatment of NYC mother and human rights attorney, Chaumtoli Huq, who was forcefully manhandled and arrested for “blocking the sidewalk” while waiting for her children and husband outside a Ruby Tuesday in Times Square. The letter requests that the NYPD implement reforms such as greater accountability and transparency and encourages outreach and enhanced training to deter the profiling of South Asian and Muslim communities.

The Paul and Daisy Soros Foundation for New Americans Seeks Grad School Applicants for 2015 The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, a foundation that helps a new generation of Americans pursue graduate degrees in the U.S. is currently seeking applicants for 2015. To learn more about the program and eligibility criteria, read their2014 Newsletter featuring Columbia Assistant Professor and Sikh American physicianDr. Prabhjot Singh, a 2005 fellow. Applications are due November 1, 2014.

SALDEF Addresses the NFL’s Recent Lack of “Sportsmanship” During a September 29 game against the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs player, Hussein Abdullah, a practicing Muslim, was cited for unsportsmanlike behavior and excessive celebration after he went down on one knee in prayer for his winning touchdown. Despite an apology from the NFL, bias was clearly seen on the field. Executive Director Jasjit Singh addressed the NFL’s shortcomings including its poor leadership record in regards to domestic violence in an op-ed, The NFL And Its Lack of “Sportsmanship”, on Talking Points Memo.

Support With Wings and Roots!

With Wings and Roots, a documentary that highlights the journey of five second generation children of immigrants in Germany and the U.S. including Sikh American Sonny Singh— an activist and musician in the band Red Baraat needs your help before it can be shared with others. Watch the trailer! The director needs to raise $5,000 to complete editing on the film. Their current effort runs through Oct 31, 2014. Support them today!

Waking In Oak Creek Reveals Community’s Inspiring Response to Hate Not In Our Town—a movement to stop hate and build safe, inclusive communities for all—released its new film Waking in Oak Creek profiling the powerful community response to the shooting at the gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin in 2012.

Free DVDs of the film are available for community screenings, educational programs, and training workshops. Additional resources include a Guide for Community Screenings, an Educator Lesson Plan, and outreach tools.

SALDEF Represents Sikh Americans at Interfaith Forum in Florida On October 16, 2014, representatives from various faithtraditions gathered at the 2014 Interfaith Forum at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Representing the Sikh tradition, SALDEF Regional Director Navtej Singh Khalsa spoke about SALDEF’s ongoing efforts to work with organizations of other faith traditions in promoting tolerance and understanding. Khalsa spoke of the importance of teaching interfaith understanding in schools so intolerance can be early.

Keynote speakers at the event included U.N. High Representative for the Alliance of  Civilizations H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, and the Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Mr. Rashad Hussain. The event was attended by 60 participants.