- Army to Allow Turbans in Junior ROTC
- SALDEF Year End Fundraising Goal Exceeded!
- UPDATE: India Abroad Apologizes
- Attention all College Students and Recent Graduates
- SALDEF Conducts Law Enforcement Training for Howard County, MD Police
- SALDEF Hosts Successful Know Your Rights Forums in California
- 2012 Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars Available
- SALDEF Participates in Anti-Bullying Circle
- Scholarship Opportunity Available for High School and College Students
- Upcoming Events
Army to Allow Turbans in Junior ROTC
The Department of Defense will now allow Sikh and Muslim students participating in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) to wear turbans and headscarves while in uniform. This victory was won by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for responding to an incident in which a Muslim teen quit JROTC when her commanding officer would not allow her to wear her hijab in the homecoming parade. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army stated in a letter to CAIR that, “the Army has reviewed its JROTC uniform policy and will develop appropriate procedures to provide Cadets the opportunity to request the wear of religious head dress, such as the turban and hijab.”
If you have an issue with your high school JROTC, contact us.
SALDEF Year End Fundraising Goal Exceeded!
With the community’s generous support we surpassed our 2011 year end fundraising goal to raise $75,000. SALDEF would like to thank everyone for their generous donations! This money will help us continue our mission of defending, informing and empowering Sikh Americans. We could not do this without your generous support! You can support our work year round, or monthly with a recurring donation at www.saldef.org/donate.
Learn more about our work in our newly released annual report.
UPDATE: India Abroad Apologizes
In November 2011, SALDEF responded to an extremely offensive letter to the editor printed in India Abroad blaming Sikh Americans for the ill treatment they may receive. SALDEF took issue with the author’s words as well as India Abroad’s decision to print such a letter. In their December 9, 2011 publication, the editors of India Abroad printed an apology, stating in part, “[We] sincerely apologize for hurting any sentiments caused by the publication of the said letter.” Read the full apology here.
Attention all College Students and Recent Graduates
SALDEF’s SikhLEAD Internship Program partners with congressional offices to place exceptional Sikh American college students and recent graduates in internship positions on Capitol Hill. Through this program, Sikh American young leaders will have access to a competitive opportunity that will serve to further their academic and professional aspirations. Spend your summer in Washington, DC interning with a member of Congress. Make this a summer you won’t forget and gain valuable experience to build your future!
Application deadline for summer 2012 is February 26th at 11:59PM EST.
Early applications will be given preference. Apply online here!
SALDEF Conducts Law Enforcement Training for Howard County, MD Police
Jasjit Singh, SALDEF Associate Executive Director, conducted a Law Enforcement Partnership Program training for new recruits in the Howard County Maryland Police Department on December 23rd, 2011. The training provided information on the Sikh faith and theology, as well as the challenges Sikh Americans face on a daily basis. Participants watched On Common Ground, a training film co-produced by SALDEF and the Department of Justice, to help articulate the steps officers can take to identify and respect members of the Sikh faith.
SALDEF Hosts Successful Know Your Rights Forums in California
On December 4th and 11th, Know Your Rights Forum events were hosted in Northern and Southern California to address local sangat issues around workplace discrimination, hate crimes, biased incidents and more. Guest speakers from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Department of Justice, Office of Community Relations Services all spoke to the sangat members in detail regarding their civil rights. Special thanks to Gurdwara management at Gurdwara Sahib San Jose, San Jose and Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Buena Park.
2012 Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars Available
It’s not too late to for SALDEF’s Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars. Educate your neighbors, friends, and co-workers about Sikh Americans in an easy, informative way through our annual pocket calendars. In their ninth year of production, the 2012 calendars feature full-color images of Sikh Americans, along with examples of core Sikh values and facts about Sikhs in the United States. In a new folded style, the calendars are the size of standard business cards. Sikhs across the nation have distributed them at their workplace, schools, convenience stores, gas stations, taxi cabs, senior citizens centers, and public libraries.
SALDEF Participates in Anti-Bullying Circle
On December 5th, 2011, SALDEF participated in SAALT’s (South Asian Americans Leading Together) DC SAALT Circle, a group of community members who meet bimonthly to discuss issues within the community. The December SAALT Circle addressed the issue of bullying and the South Asian community. SALDEF discussed the impact of bullying from a community level and shared ways that communities can work to reduce and react to bullying. Other speakers on the panel were Akil Vohra from the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Shawn Gaylord from GLSEN.
SHARE: Click here to email and share your story about bullying with SALDEF.
Scholarship Opportunity Available for High School and College Students
The International Institute of Gurmat Studies (IIGS) announces two scholarships ($500.00 each) in memory of its founder Captain K.H. Singh for Sikh Youth who are High School seniors or current college students. The purpose is to award and promote Sikh Youth as they pursue their educational goals. Deadline to receive applications is January 15, 2012. Details are also available via www.iigs.com. To apply, click here.
Upcoming Events
- January 5 – Yolo County District Attorney”s Office Training – Woodland, CA
- January 11 – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Training – Philadelphia, PA
- January 23 —U.S. Park Police Training – Washington, D.C.
- January 29 – Know Your Rights Forum – Riverside, CA
- February 8 – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Training – Los Angeles, CA
- February 21 – U.S. Park Police Training – Washington, D.C.