- Support Kanwaljit Singh and His Family
- Job Announcement – Communications Director
- SALDEF Speaks at Georgetown Panel on Religious Freedom
- SALDEF Trains Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Michigan
- SALDEF Conducts Training for 200 Members of LAPD
- Oak Creek Community Members Meet VP Biden
- SALDEF Welcomes Hate Crime Charge in California Attack
- Association of Sikh Professional Offering Scholarships
- Action Alerts and Upcoming Events
Support Kanwaljit Singh and His Family As reported last month, since his hate crime attack three months ago, Mr. Kanwaljit Singh and his family, including his wife and two children, have suffered from significant financial problems. Due to Mr. Singh’s medical condition, he is unable to return to work at his convenience store. The family is behind in paying utility bills and purchasing inventory to keep the store open. They are in serious risk of losing their business, barely two months after it first opened, because of this violent, senseless, and terrifying attack. We humbly request your support in assisting the family during this financially and psychologically distressing time. Thanks to the efforts of the Dasvandh Network, online donations are now accepted for the Singh family, by visiting http://www.dvnetwork.org/projects/kanwaljit-singh-family-fund. Additionally, the One Nation Fund has graciously agreed to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, so please donate now. SALDEF Job Announcement – Communications Director SALDEF is seeking a Communications Director to lead media related efforts for the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights organization. The preferred applicant will have experience in managing media relations and contacts, conducting news conferences, developing media strategies and pitching stories. Additionally, this position requires the management of SALDEF’s social media sites, the ability to write, produce and edit community and national advisories, and coordinate the scheduling of advertising for media and event programs. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of three years of relevant experience; demonstrated experience in public relations, journalism, civil liberties law, or a related field requiring significant writing and public relations duties. If interested, please click here for more information and the application process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. SALDEF Invited to Speak at Georgetown Panel on Religious Freedom 
On May 30, SALDEF Executive Director, Jasjit Singh, was invited to serve as a panelist for the “Many Faiths, One America” conference sponsored by the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University and the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s American Religious Freedom Program. Sitting on a panel entitled, “Threats to Religious Freedom in the US & Europe: Concerns of Majority and Minority Communities,” Jasjit spoke to the audience, made up of religious scholars and leaders, about practices, laws and attitudes that contribute to the suppression of faith in the US and abroad. Joining Jasjit on the panel was Hannah Smith of the Becket Fund, Roger Trigg of Oxford University and David Little of Harvard University. The event was nationally televised on CSPAN. Click here to watch the full panel. SALDEF Presents to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Michigan 
On May 22, SALDEF legal volunteers, Dalpreet Saluja and Nick Talwar, presented to the entire staff of the EEOC District Office in Detroit, MI. The roughly 50 participants in attendance were comprised of investigators, attorneys, support staff and management. The presentation provided basic information about Sikh beliefs and practices, Sikh American demographics, and common misperceptions about Sikhs and Sikhism. SALDEF staff discussed the various employment related challenges faced by the Sikh American community and shared examples of cases from different industries and professions. SALDEF would like to thank Dalpreet and Nick for volunteering their time and giving this important presentation. To read about out past trainings with the EEOC, please click here. SALDEF Provides Training for 200 Members of LAPD 
On May 7, SALDEF arranged a first-of-its-kind training for the Los Angeles Police Department, Counter Terrorism Bureau (LAPD CTB) as part of our Law Enforcement Partnership Program (LEPP). SALDEF was invited to conduct the training for roughly 200 members of the LAPD CTB. Topics discussed during the 90-minute presentation included, an introduction to Sikhism and Sikh Americans, hate crimes and their effect on the community, specifically in Los Angeles County. The training concluded by allowing participants the opportunity to address specific questions and concerns they had about appropriate and respectful ways to interact with Sikh community members. SALDEF would like to thank local advocate Niranjan Singh Khalsa for conducting this training. SALDEF and Oak Creek Community Members Invited to APAICS Gala Featuring Vice Presiden
t Joe Biden On May 8, SALDEF staff members were joined by Oak Creek Community members, Kanwardeep Kaleka and Dr. Harcharan Gill, at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Annual Gala. Vice President, Joe Biden, was the featured guest of the evening. He met privately with Mr. Kaleka and Dr. Gill before the gala began to share his condolences about the Oak Creek tragedy. SALDEF Welcomes Hate Crime Charge in California Attack On May 5, Piara Singh was brutally assaulted as he was leaving the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Southwest Fresno. The assailant attacked Mr. Singh with a steel pipe leaving him with a fractured jaw, punctured lung, and head injuries. Mr. Singh has been released from the hospital and is recovering at his home. SALDEF has been in contact with the Fresno County Chief of Police and was pleased to learn Mr. Singh’s attacker has been charged with a hate crime by the District Attorney Click here to read more about this attack. 
SALDEF Provides Invocation Prayer at National Civil Rights Events SALDEF was asked to provide the opening invocation at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award Dinner. On May 2, Executive Director Jasjit Singh read an excerpt from the Guru Granth Sahib offering a prayer for the welfare of humanity to the over 1,500 people in attendance, which included elected officials, civil rights advocates and community leaders from around the country Apply Now– The Association of Sikh Professional Offering Scholarships 
The Association of Sikh Professionals is offering a scholarship to college going students, ranging anywhere from $400 to $4000 per year. Awards are in the form of scholarships, grants through endowments, and interest-free loans for which repayment is expected after graduation. Financial need is taken into consideration, as well as academic ability and involvement in Sikh activities. All applicants must be attending or should have been admitted to an accredited course of study. Applications must go through the application form available here. Deadline is June 28, 2013 for re-applicants. Results will be announced by early September. SALDEF encourages interested parties to apply.. For more information please visit ASP website at http://www.associationofsikhprofessionals.org/appforms/ TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Senators to End Racial Profiling! Tell Your Congressmen to Support Safe Schools! Upcoming Events:
- June 17th – Presentation to Interfaith Youth Leadership Initiative, Los Angeles, CA
- July 19th – Presentation at OCA National Conference, Washington DC •
- July 23rd – Meet the SikhLEAD Interns, Washington DC
- Oct 12th – SALDEF 2013 National Gala, Washington DC